Ulysse Nardin

UN at the first "thePuristS.com Salzburg TicTac Talk" pt. 1 (many pics!) ...

 

Some time ago, I asked her if any Purists would be interested in a meeting in the Salzburg/Munich area. Remember? Well, what came out of this was beyond of all my early speculations. Originally, I had planned a nice small come-together in a good restaurant, having dinner and talking watches. Easy plan, isn't it? But then I received calls and mails from horological celebrities, such as AHCI-member and tourbillon-master Thomas Prescher, Richard Habring, the man behind many of IWC's renown complications. And finally, Ulysse Nardin offered to show their wonderful pieces to the participants!

Thus, what started as a simple dinner, became a veritable watch event, together with all its thrill, fun and organising headaches. Of course, this needed a good title, and after some thinking, I sticked t

Salzburg TicTac Talk (TTT)


In spite of the wonderful program I wanted the event to be a familiar one, with not too many people present. This small circle would make it possible to be in close contact with the masters and their pieces, to have specific questions answered in detail, and to get to know each other more closely. Twenty people we should be, since the cosy room in the good restaurant I had found ideally located, would not offer much more space. As it turned out, we needed another table added, since we were a few more people.

The event was scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 25, in the "Friesacher" hotel and restaurant in Anif, a very small village nearby Salzburg, which could be easily reached from the highway.



Besides PuristS and local watch enthusiasts, also some visitors of the major German-language watch discussion forum, www.watchbizzforum.de , were present.

The evening started at 6 p.m., with a small ap?ro.





When the guests finally entered the room we had reserved, they were greeted by Renato Bonina, CEO of Ulysse Nardin Europe, who had spent all the afternoon in order to meticulously arrange practically UN's complete current watch line.



This was indeed an eye-opening sight, since barely a visitor ever had the chance before to see all the fine UN pieces in one place together! We felt very honoured indeed, since it is not common for a watch manufacturer to show the whole collection to such a small circle of enthusiasts. And they were not secured behind glass, but we could actually handle and inspect them all!






GMT Big Date, Michelangelo and the Sonnerie en Passant (Hourstriker)


Michelangelo Gigante series


Marine series, with the Marine Perpetual. The new limited "Blue Wave" was of course also present. However, the ladies were so fascinated by it that they constantly blocked my sight, not allowing me to take pictures .


The Sonata and the GMT Perpetual. Another huge honour for us was the display of the new limited edition platinum GMT Perpetual "Sonata-style", which has been never shown before afar from the Tempus event in Singapore. Thus, its display at the TTT was a European premier! Thanks, UN!!


Another highlight was a complete platinum "Trilogy of Time", with the Astrolabium, Planetarium and Tellurium.

However, before stampeding directly onto the watches, we acted like civilized people and sat down for dinner; not without some watch circulation on the tables, though!


Catfish carpaccio with a nice "Skorpik & Fils" chronograph, made in a tiny series by a local watchmaker, Thomas Gneuss.


Thomas' watches found their way around between the courses, and apaprently found their friends.



But then came the massive load of information, most lively presented by Mr. Bonina. In detail he explained to us the working of the "Freak" and the "Sonata", and he showed us the new production facility, which UN had bought and activated in La Chaux-de-Fonds. There, all self-developed movements and complications will be produced.








To be continued in part 2.