Ulysse Nardin

Since 2003 and the unveil of the first Sonata till this year, this model saw some strong evolutions. 

Let's keep in mind some dates:

- 2003, unveil of the first Sonata, which was- and still is- a revolutionary alarm watch, as it displays a quite unique combination of complications: 

An alarm which you can set on 24 hours. 

An alarm countdown. 

A GMT. 

And a big date. 

The whole thing in an unmatched design. Some will love it, others will hate it, but this is the kind of watch which doesn't let unmoved. 

The first generation:

- 2005, Ulysse Nardin introduced the second generation of the Sonata. Not a revolution, even though... The visible evolution is the see through case back, while the first generation had a solid one. The audible difference is that the alarm plays on a cathedral gong. 

There was a limited edition of this second version, released in 500 pieces, with a silicium escapement. 

And in this series of 500 pieces, a micro series of 5 pieces ( 3 pieces, in reality ) with a different configuration of dial and hands:

The movement has always been the U.N Cal 67. Which started without silicium escapement, then. 

- 2012 saw the birth of the Sonata Streamline. A totally different case, 2 mm bigger ( 44 mm instead of 42 ), differently shaped, and a new dial design. 

Same functions. 3 versions. Titanium Rose Gold, Titanium Ceramic bezel, and Titanium PVD ( Boutique Edition ) . 

You will notice that the titanium rose gold is the first Sonata to not show the oscillator on the dial side. 

- 2016: The Classic Sonata comes for the first time with a new steel case borrowed to the Classic family, 44 mm big, which is much wiser than the Streamline. 

Blue dial showing the oscillator, and the Cotes De Genève which reappear on the dial side. Limited Edition of 99 pieces. 

- And, now, in 2017, Ulysse Nardin comes at the SIHH with two new versions of the Classic Sonata, one in steel, one in rose gold. 

A live picture I could take at the SIHH: 

This is by far the most sober and cleaner version. The dials of these 2 versions are smooth, clean, elegant, but lack the madness of the former versions. 

Even the hands are more conventional than those of the Streamline and the first and second generation. The oscillator disappeared. 

The classic elements are still here, the sophisticated alarm, the countdown, the GMT, and the Big Date you can set forward and backward, as always, with an Ulysse Nardin watch. 

The movement is the Cal 67, with its silicium escapement and hairspring. 

Like all the versions since 2005, this Sonata has a see through case back. 

Now the good question is to know which one you prefer... The 2 first generations, the Streamline or the Classics? 

Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,

Best.

Nicolas

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