Inside Ulysse Nardin's Component Manufacture

Bernard Cheong offers an exclusive look inside the Ulysse Nardin manufacturing facility, highlighting the brand's extensive in-house production capabilities. His detailed photo essay focuses on the meticulous process of crafting watch components, from screws to wheels, underscoring UN's role as a critical supplier within the Swiss watchmaking industry. This article reveals the hidden depths of a manufacture that not only produces its own innovative timepieces like the Freak but also supplies high-precision parts to many other esteemed brands.

Welcome to the ground floor of the UN facility.

Now, I have been writting quite a bit about IWC. But in reality, I am very much at heart, a part of UN..in spirit.

Ulysse Nardin is more than a factory, I avoid that word..it is a "facility". It sounds much better doesn't it?

But seriously, it is a facility in many ways. There is actual research, carried out at many levels, from Ludwig's private quarters, as an independant man not on the UN staff, but he works continously on mathematics, schematics, and pasta..yes..pasta. That's for another time.

There is also over 10,000 sq feet on the 3rd floor of computers and young men and women working on CAD platforms and in an eerie silence.

On the several other floors..and on several buildings, spread over an area that is 4 x the size of IWC....there is EVERYTHING that starts form the making of nuts and bolts to ultra specific tolerances for customers that are EVERYONE...I can't name them....but ALL of the fora that we have on the purists..well..there are less than 3 exceptions.

Everyone needs screws, nuts and bolts..especially very good ones..those with very fine even threads.

Like R & Papi...but in a different element, UN is a critical force in both technical fabrication of parts, not just creating CAD models (altho that is very critical and advanced too), but also..UN makes both artisan parts..dials and enamels...as well as micro parts and silicium of the highest order..bar none.

Then there are the various departments at UN that make entire plates, dials and wheels for many watch companies or "clients"....here I can't even mention any names..and no clues either.

You can see how important Ulysse Nardin is...in the world of Swiss watchmaking.

Today, I hope you will enjoy a posting of some 18 pictures..that show how at UN, the screws are made..for many a watch you own in your collection!

With very few exceptions...

Here is the room...this room is the size of a tennis court x 1.5

The reason...cutting of metal rods whcih are VERY long...

There are many reasons why the rods are kept so long...and I am not familiar with any! But they are just extremely loooong.

Just making a bolt or a screw....!!!!!

That is how much care goes into this at UN.

That explains why they can make the Freak...and make it work..more on that later.

 The care that goes into a wheel for a company..not only just UN.

Many of the highest companies trust that only UN can deliver a wheel that will meet the requirements.

Even a screw is critically checked..especially if it was will be used in a grande complication..or a watch that will be looked after for future generations...

Please let me know if these are helpful...and I will post again over the week...

Thanks for reading folks!!!!


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