The story of this Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon
Ulysse Nardin built its reputation in the 19th century by equipping the world’s military fleets with its marine chronometers. These navigation instruments required absolute precision to calculate longitude at sea. The Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon 1283-181/E3 watch pays direct tribute to this maritime heritage. Its aesthetic layout rigorously reprises the codes of on-board instruments with a large perfectly legible dial and a power reserve indicator positioned at 12 o’clock. The use of Grand Feu enamel is not merely a craft métier. Historically, enamel dials offered exceptional resistance to corrosion and salt spray, guaranteeing unalterable legibility over the decades. The integration of a flying tourbillon adds a higher technical dimension by compensating for the effects of gravity on the regulating organ.
Case, calibre and bracelet of this Marine Tourbillon
The stainless steel case measures 43 mm in diameter and 12 mm in thickness. It alternates polished finishes on the flanks and satin-brushed finishes on the lugs while presenting a fluted bezel typical of the collection. The screw-down crown overmoulded with blue rubber ensures water resistance tested to 100 metres. Beneath the sapphire crystal appears a translucent blue Grand Feu enamel dial produced by the manufacture Donzé Cadrans. This guilloché dial with a fine wave motif highlights elongated white Roman numerals and luminous rhodium-plated hands. The self-winding calibre UN-128 beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers 60 hours of power reserve. It integrates 36 jewels and deploys an anti-magnetic silicon escapement and hairspring. The transparent caseback allows the watchmaking finishes and the skeletonised oscillating weight to be admired. A blue alligator leather strap secured by a stainless steel folding clasp completes the whole.
Why this Ulysse Nardin watch
This model brings together prestigious complications and savoir-faire often reserved for pieces in precious metals. Offering a flying tourbillon coupled with a champlevé enamel dial within a steel case constitutes a bold watchmaking approach. This configuration offers collectors a piece of Haute Horlogerie wearable on a daily basis without compromise on mechanical complexity. The art of Grand Feu enamel involves a high rejection rate during firing at very high temperatures, limiting the production of these dials. Acquiring this blue variation on the pre-owned market at The Swiss Collector allows the integration of a high-level manufacture creation with a highly relevant positioning.
Contents delivered and condition
This piece, acquired in November 2024, presents itself in an exceptional state of preservation and shows no apparent signs of wear. It corresponds exactly to a like-new watch. The future owner receives a complete set including the blue cylindrical travel box signed Ulysse Nardin, the original identification tags and the manufacture guarantee card. This perfect cosmetic and mechanical condition ensures the collector an ownership experience identical to a direct release from the brand’s workshops, with the advantage of ongoing official cover.
Guarantee and delivery
The Swiss Collector guarantees the authenticity of this piece. The watch benefits from its ongoing manufacture guarantee, with a possible extension until November 2029. We accept returns within 10 days subject to our conditions. Leader in pre-owned luxury in Switzerland and backed by the largest network of boutiques, we offer online reservation for a fitting and collection in store or fully secured international shipping. The watch is like new, never worn or in exceptional condition, with no defect visible to the naked eye.
