Haute Time Presents: Patrik P. Hoffmann, CEO of Ulysse Nardin
At Basel World 2012, Haute Time had the fantastic opportunity to sit down with Patrik P. Hoffmann, CEO of Ulysse Nardin.
We first discussed his feelings about Ulysse Nardin and the current market. Hoffmann said he felt very strong about the United States, which is on the rise, as well as Brazil which is becoming one of the hottest watch markets and a huge driving force for the rise of the Latin American market.
Hoffmann recently relocated from Boca Raton Florida back to Switzerland and while he joked that it’s much colder, he was excited to be back where all the action happens.
Hoffmann then showcased some amazing timepieces. We first took a look at a watch with Ulysse Nardin’s basic in-house movement which they industrialized in their production last year. The oscillator, the heart of the movement, is made up of many special components and the dial is a unique enamel which was a collaboration between all four of its group companies The retail price is around $35,000 and is a limited edition (350 pieces).
The next watch we discussed featured the same basic caliber in-house movement as the first watch but was made from stainless steel and priced at $10,000. I also got a look at the new Ulysse Nardin “Sonata” timepiece. It’s very cutting edge, with a very complicated case made of titanium, gold and ceramic. The Sonata is a 24 hour alarm watch, priced at about $40,000.
Hoffmann also showed off some sportier watches including the “Blue Sea,” limited to just 999 pieces. It’s sleek and modern and even the movement inside is blue, to match the casing. The Blue Sea is a part of a new collection which also includes the “Black Sea” and the “Black Sea Chronograph.”
While looking at the timepieces, I noticed Hoffmann was carrying the new Ulysse Nardin Chairman phone. A collaboration with Scientific Cellular Innovations, the luxury hybrid smart phone has been the talk of Basel.
Check out the video above to get an inside look of my meeting with Patrik P. Hoffmann, CEO of Ulysse Nardin at Basel World 2012.
