Ulysse Nardin Freak S Enamel

At Ulysse Nardin, we believe in thinking differently, and that progress happens when we go beyond what is possible. Since 1846, we have been advancing watchmaking through pioneering technology and unmatched craftsmanship, continually challenging conventions to shape the future of horology.

That spirit of innovation found its most radical expression in 2001, when Ulysse Nardin unveiled the Freak, a creation that defied every rule: no dial, no hands, no crown, but with a movement rotating to tell time. Conceived by Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, mathematician, astronomer, and visionary watchmaker, the Freak also pioneered the use of silicon not as a detail, but as a foundation, transforming radical engineering into a bold statement of creative freedom.

A true revolution in 21st-century watchmaking, the Freak remains, nearly 25 years later, one of the most iconic and disruptive achievements in modern high horology. It sparked a movement that redefined contemporary horology and ignited a new age of creativity and innovation: the dawn of a new era in modern watchmaking. With over 20 patents to its name, the Freak became Ulysse Nardin’s emblem of independence, and its rebellious spirit continues to inspire others.

This vision was driven even further with the Freak S, the pinnacle of the Freak and the most complicated time-only watch. A true Haute Horlogerie marvel that pushes limits of horology, creativity and technology to the edge, featuring a double oscillator, silicon and DIAMonSIL technology, the world’s smallest mechanical differential, a striking 3D architecture spanning six planes, and the revolutionary Grinder® automatic winding system.

Today, as part of a yearlong celebration of artisanal métiers d’art, Ulysse Nardin unveils a new chapter in the Freak legacy, an inspired fusion of avant-garde innovation and centuries-old craftsmanship. The iconic Freak S is reimagined with the exceptional savoir-faire of the Maison’s in-house enamel workshop, resulting in two striking new editions. Featuring vibrant turquoise blue and deep ruby red enamel discs, these timepieces are a bold expression of high watchmaking elevated by artistic mastery. Each edition is released in an exclusive limited series of 50 pieces.

A high horology marvel: the most complex time-only watch

The Freak S is a groundbreaking masterpiece. It is the most complex time-only watch ever created and the world’s first automatic with a double oscillator. A timepiece that operates on a completely different level: mechanically, conceptually, visually. What sets the Freak S apart is its revolutionary architecture. Unlike traditional movements built on two planes, the Manufacture calibre UN-251 is crafted across six distinct gear planes to accommodate two inclined silicon balance wheels set at a 20-degree angle and a vertical differential. It is the first calibre with a differential gear built with ball bearings, developed by the same micromechanics specialists who create components for high tech instruments, such as artificial hearts, ensuring unparalleled precision and energy efficiency.

Seventeen ceramic ball bearings optimise the entire energy chain, reducing friction and boosting efficiency, making it one of the most efficient time-only calibres. This includes a rare feat in watchmaking: a double-level ball bearing system, engineered to further enhance performance and reliability. The revolutionary and patented Grinder® automatic winding system powers the watch with remarkable efficiency, perfectly complementing the movement’s complex mechanics.

With 373 components and 33 jewels assembled by a single pair of hands, this intricate movement is further enhanced by two inclined oversized oscillators with silicon balance wheels and two escapements treated with Ulysse Nardin’s proprietary DIAMonSIL technology, boosting durability and accuracy.

And visually? It is alive.

95% of its components rotate, including the gold minute bridge with its oscillators, the hour disc, the bezel for time-setting and the case back for winding, creating a dynamic interplay of movement.

The architecture is bold, three-dimensional, and unmistakably Freak: a striking statement of avant-garde design and high horology.

Silicon: first and leading

Silicon’s journey in watchmaking began with Ulysse Nardin in 2001 with the Freak. More than two decades later, although many other prestigious watchmakers have since adopted the avant-garde material, the Freak remains at the forefront of this revolution. Lightweight, flexible, low-friction, and fully anti-magnetic, silicon offers clear performance advantages, enhancing precision, durability, and long-term reliability.

Inside the movement are ten in-house silicon components, including the balance wheels and hairsprings, along with the DIAMonSIL escapements, a fusion of silicon and diamond coating patented by Ulysse Nardin in 2007. With the added hardness of diamond on the escapements, designed to withstand over 150 million impacts per year, this advanced material significantly increases resistance to friction and shock. This level of robustness is essential, especially as the Freak S escapement operates at 18’000 vibrations per hour.

Produced at Sigatec, the brand’s silicon lab in Sion, Switzerland, these components reflect over 20 years of proprietary expertise and innovation.

The world’s smallest differential: a breakthrough in mechanical watchmaking

At the heart of the Freak S beats a component never seen at this scale in horology: the world’s smallest vertical differential. Composed of 47 precision-engineered parts, including six ceramic ball bearings and engineered with micron-level precision, its mission is to average the rate of the two inclined oscillators, delivering unmatched accuracy and enhanced stability.

Originally invented in 1827 by the watchmaker Onésiphore Pecqueur to guide early steam-powered vehicles, the differential was not originally intended for watchmaking. Yet nearly two centuries later, Ulysse Nardin reimagines this historic concept, integrating a differential gear entirely built on ball bearings within a mechanical movement, an unprecedented feat in the world of Haute Horlogerie. Developed in collaboration with leading micromechanics specialists, who contribute to the design of artificial hearts among other things, this miniature engineering marvel marks a defining moment in modern mechanical watchmaking.

Grinder®: a pulse of energy

Supplying energy to two oscillators is a challenge that Ulysse Nardin met with the development of the Grinder® system, the most advanced automatic winding system to date. First introduced in 2017 through the Freak InnoVision 2 concept watch, Grinder® was engineered specifically to meet the high-energy demands of a dual-oscillator movement, without sacrificing efficiency or power. The result is an impressive 72-hour power reserve, made possible by a system that captures and converts even the slightest wrist movement into usable energy.

Echoing the principles of hybrid automotive technology, Grinder® recovers kinetic energy from motion to keep the Freak S running at peak performance. Its efficiency is rooted in a low-frequency movement of 2.5 Hz, combined with friction-reducing ceramic ball bearings, ensuring seamless energy transmission and lasting mechanical reliability.

Advanced housing

The Freak S is housed in a 45 mm case made from one of the most advanced materials in contemporary high watchmaking: titanium. Renowned for its use in aerospace and high-performance engineering, titanium is approximately 45% lighter than steel yet offers exceptional strength. Its natural properties, corrosion resistance, hypoallergenic composition, and durability, make it an ideal choice for a watch built to endure extreme conditions while maintaining comfort on the wrist.

The entire case architecture, including the main body, bezel, locking mechanism, and case back, is crafted from titanium to ensure structural integrity without unnecessary weight. The result is a robust yet lightweight construction that protects the movement while enhancing wearability and long-term performance. Completing the piece is an anthracite or white rubber strap with a ballistic-textured finish, paired with a matching titanium folding clasp—a modern and functional complement to a watch engineered for precision, endurance, and continuous motion.

High artistry masterpiece an hypnotic high-tech watch

The Freak S combines cutting-edge mechanical innovation with one of the most exquisite decorative techniques in watchmaking: enamelling.

Among the rare métiers d’art still practiced today, enamelling holds a special place at Ulysse Nardin. This ancient craft, perfected over millennia by civilizations from Egypt to China, became associated with horology in the 17th century. Renowned for its depth, vibrancy, and permanence, it offers a richness of colour that never fades, unlike traditional surface treatments.

Both new editions of the Freak S feature rotating hour discs enamelled in vibrant turquoise blue and deep ruby red are crafted entirely in-house at Donzé Cadrans, the Manufacture’s dedicated enamelling workshop located just steps from the Ulysse Nardin Manufacture in Le Locle. Founded in 1972 by master enameller Francis Donzé, making it Switzerland’s oldest enameling workshop, the atelier began collaborating with Ulysse Nardin in the 1980s, and was acquired by the Maison in 2011 to ensure the continuity of this expertise. Donzé Cadran is a benchmark in the field, mastering techniques such as Grand Feu, Cloisonné, Champlevé, and Guilloché-Flinqué.

While Donzé Cadrans is renowned for its expertise in traditional, static enamel dials, the Freak S presents an entirely different challenge. The hand-crafted Guilloché-Flinqué rotating hour disc is not purely decorative; it is an active part of the movement. A mechanical component, constantly in motion, built with precise tolerances and fitted with multiple screw points. Every step must account for movement, balance, and structural integrity, without compromising visual perfection.

To meet these demands, Ulysse Nardin uses 18-carat white gold (130 palladium, 120 silver, 750 gold) chosen specifically for its thermal stability. Only with this composition can the disc endure the extreme heat of repeated kiln firings without distortion. Before enamelling begins, the disc is stamped with a signature pattern, designed in-house to intensify the visual rhythm of the rotating carousel and its twin silicon oscillators.

The enamelling process itself is both science and art. Raw solid compounds are washed, ground by hand using a traditional mortar and pestle, and reduced to an ultra-fine powder. These pigments are then blended, a process that demands deep knowledge of chemistry, reactivity, and color theory. Water is added to form a pigment paste, which is applied to the disc and fired at approximately 800°C. This is repeated across three to four layers, each one enhancing the tone, texture, and intensity of the enamel. After the final firing, the surface is manually polished, a delicate, hour-long operation that reveals the enamel’s full depth and luminosity.

The outcome, however, is an enamel surface that is not only beautiful, but also remarkably durable. The Freak S is therefore more than a technical achievement, it is a timepiece that unites cutting-edge engineering with a centuries-old craft, advancing both to unprecedented heights.

Every step of the enamelling process carries inherent risks, bubbling, cracking, or uneven firing can result in having to start the entire piece over from scratch. This demanding discipline allows no shortcuts and requires an extraordinary combination of patience, precision, and time, which is why enamel remains one of the most challenging materials to master in Haute Horlogerie.

Technical specifications

Ulysse Nardin Freak S Enamel

Reference: 2513-500LE-6AE-RED/3A - Red enamel

Reference: 2513-500LE-3AE-TUR/3A - Blue enamel

Limited edition of 50 pieces each colour

Case

• Material: Titanium case, locker, bezel, and case back with open sapphire
• Diameter: 45 mm
• Perceived height 13.66 mm, overall height 16.65 mm
• Water-resistant to 30 metres

Dial and hands

• Red or blue Grand Feu enamel dial plates

Movement

• Manufacture calibre UN-251
• Automatic movement
• Hours, minutes
• Flying carousel movement rotating around its own axis
• Two 20-degree-inclined oversized oscillators with silicon balance wheels
• DIAMonSIL escapements
• Vertical differential with ball bearings
• Grinder® automatic winding system, blades technology
• Frequency: 2 x 2.5 Hz, oscillations 2 x 18’000 vph

Functions/Indications

• Hours and minutes

Strap and buckle

• Red: White rubber ballistic strap with a titanium folding buckle
• Blue: Anthracite rubber ballistic strap with a titanium folding buckle

MSRP

• CHF 153’000 (incl. taxes)
• EUR 163’300 (incl. taxes)
• GBP 142’010 (incl. taxes)

For more information, please visit ulysse-nardin.com