Haute Woman: Hands-On with the Ulysse Nardin Jade

In the last few years, brands have begun to acknowledge that there is a significant market for ladies mechanical watches. It’s not just men that are captivated by the complexity of a timepiece anymore. On the market we are seeing a wider variety of mechanical options made for women. But. The majority of the brands are co-opting movements designed for men’s watches and placing them in a woman’s model, which is a bit of a shortcut.

Ulysse Nardin is one of the few companies that has designed a woman’s watch from the ground up. Named the Jade, it contains the new movement UN-310 conceived and built specifically for this ladies piece. The Jade began 12 years ago as a request by Chai Schnyder, Chairwoman of Ulysse Nardin, to her late husband Rolf Schnyder, then President and CEO of Ulysse Nardin. Since Mrs. Schnyder got manicures, she believed women would appreciate a watch whose crown wouldn’t cause the possibility of a chip or break in the nail.

Ulysse Nardin is known for their trailblazing use of technology, such as the first ever use of silicium in a movement, seen in the aptly named Freak, and their perpetual calendars that can be adjusted forwards and backwards. UN-310 is a worthy successor, containing anti-magnetic silicium in the base caliber, escapement wheels and Swiss anchor, and possessing all the expected inventive technical prowess of a Ulysse Nardin creation. Instead of pulling out the crown and risking those nails, a pusher at four o’clock changes the function to the three positions of winding and setting the time and date. No more fiddling around, which is not only great protection for a manicure but a highly convenient and functional feature.

The Jade is beautiful inside and out. A satiny mother-of-pearl dial set with diamond indices rests in an elegant 36mm 18ct gold case with a snow-set diamond bezel.

Four ceramic horns also sprinkled with diamonds give it a graceful feline look. Wrapping around the wrist with a satin strap with 18ct gold buckle, the Jade provides a sapphire crystal back in order to admire the technique of the UN-310.

Combining technical expertise with lovely design and lines, Ulysse Nardin provides yet another horological breakthrough with the Jade. Rolf Schnyder should be proud of providing this woman’s legacy.

Photo Credit: Haute Time. For more, please visit Ulysse Nardin.