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a Freak with a conventional escapement?
Hi Marcus,
This is a great report with fantastic pictures and it's always a pleasure to what UN is up to. Thanks!
In the pictures of the Diavolo, it appears to show a conventionally shaped escape wheel (in silicium or similar by the looks of it) on the tourbillon cage. I find this very surprising since the Dual-Direct and Dual-Ulysse escapements have always been critical defining features of the Freak.
Does the Diavolo use a Swiss Lever escapement? And if so, what's that all about? 
_john
Basel 2010 Ulysse Nardin novelties: MANY pics!!
Last year, Ulysse Nardin had presented the fascinating “Moonstruck” and the highly complex desk clock “Planet Earth”. According to the two-years-rule, major inhouse innovations are released every two years. So I did not expect something really new, aside ...
Marcus, what is with the half seconds dial on the Freak?
I think it ruins the look. Can you tell us more information on the skeletonized movements?
I like that half seconds scale on the Diavolo ...
... since this sapphire strip continues the shape of the underlying movement bridge. I also think that a watch like that does not really need a seconds scale at all, from a technical point of view. But this one permits to add some life to the otherwise ve...
AHHH, at last. Thanks Marcus. The Diavolo must be something to behold in the metal.
When the Freak first came out, there was much education required to differentiate between a carrousel and a tourbillon. Now that talk is no longer needed. What a wild combination and, as usual, UN is far ahead of the curve. Thanks again and it was certain...
The more I think about the Diavolo ....
... the more I like it.It would solve my dilemma of either taking the Freak, or the Royal Blue, by combining the technical features of both; if I had the money, that is ... Regards, Marcus
Thanyou Marcus,brilliant report.
Obviously the Diavolo steals the show!Already being a big fan of the Freak,this tops it all up.Outstanding!Any idea of the price range? Congratulations and thanks again for the report. Mo
Tourbillon on Tourbillon...The Freakiest Freak?
I love the strong and " technical " look of this latest Freak, really. It is a real Beauty. I amdire also U.N imagination while thinking to add a Tourbillon in a Freak, which is considered, as you said, as a Caroussel Tourbillon. But I have only one reser...
Diavolo
I Like. What is the black material on the inside curve of the bezel? and could the whole case end up in this?.... Yum. Love ya work UN. Big fan. C
Aaaah, Cory, I was wondering where you were!
I can't wait to see it in the flesh, my friend. If I still can manage to read the Time on this Super Freak, it may be possible that I double the simple Freak with this super Freak. But I'm afraid the price tag of this watch will let me stay away from it.....
I doubt, my friend ....
You wrote: "But I'm afraid the price tag of this watch will let me stay away from it...." I rather think it will send you into a stable orbit around the "Diavolo", like an elektron: Attracted by the "Diavolo's" gravitation, repelled by its price tag. Rega...
Black case of the Diavolo ...
Hi cory, the black material on the case ring was some kind of rubber coating, similar to the bezels of various Porsche Design chronographs. Apparently, it was not applied very carefully, since it started to flake off on the watch I inspected. This is typi...
Cory, please read my post to this below.
I was very wrong about a black Freak of sorts.
Legibility of the Diavolo is barely worse than that of the regular Freak ...
... but I happened to find a bad moment for my pictures, when the "hour hand", the luminous arrow head already known from the "Blue Phantom" was partially covered by the minute tourbillon on the "minute hand". If you look closely, you can see a part of th...
Will pay attention to that detail, Marcus...
And what if, finally, the Diavolo would be my 2d Freak, and my frist Tourbillon??? Tempting ... And Tempted. Best, Nicolas
Hmm... still undecided on my verdict
thanks for the report marcus there are some new and interesting watches here but would like to see them in the flesh before making my judgement
Thank
Once again UN never fails to disappoint us. I am very happy what they have done this year especially with the Blue Diver.. One question Marcus; How many pieces is that watch limited to?
Typically UN makes 1846 in steel and 500 in RG
That is the recent standard formula for the "Blue" series of limited edition watches. We'll await Marcus' response for the accurate number, but if I were to bet on it, those numbers would probably ring true. I like this piece, and coming from a Blue Surf ...
Hammerhead Shark
Well honestly I think that it should be like the conventional Black Ocean, Blue Surf, Blue Seal numbers. I think that is should be 1846 in the steel and maybe 999 in the RG and Titanium. Well see what marcus has to say
I stand corrected, I think you are right...
I was going back too far in time and remembering the first "Blue " watch, the Blue Max, which they made in 999 pieces in Steel and 500 in RG, I think... Bit too confused, bit dazed from returning from Basel, 12.5hr flight on Sunday... Cheers, Tim
Hammerhead limitation ...
... is 350 pieces in pink gold and 999 pieces in steel. Regards, Marcus
Worth the wait!
Hi Marcus, Thanks for your post! I very much enjoyed your pictures and write-up. UN is always intriguing to me, and I like their spirit. For me, the divers this year were superb. I particularly like how the Maxi was refreshed (love the bezel treatment). I...
Thanks for your kind words! ....
... And I am a bit astonished that the skeleton watch is met with such wide appreciation, not only by you. Pieces like these were in the catalogue ever since I have heard about Ulysse Nardin some fifteen years ago, and even then they were already classics...
"Old" values are evergreen.
IMO, as long as there are lovers of haute horlogerie, there will always be those that appreciate the "old" aesthetics. I like modern, innovative displays/cases/materials etc. as much as the next person, but I will never tire of the traditional ways either...
Minor correction regarding the facelifted Maxi Diver ....
... the pictures shows the inscription "200 Meters" on the dial, which is wrong. The non-limited Diver will have the traditional titanium caseback with the engraved gold medal cities, that was introduced with the very first 1846 Marine Chronometer already...
step into the future
i can see that UN is marching twoards calling it future wouldnt be the right word, how a bout a out of the box watches,look wise i mean, and how stunning and amazing are the last two watches, the skeleton is mouth watering. any clue how many pieces will b...
If I recall correctly, the skeleton is limited to 25 pieces ....
... I hope to receive more detailed information on this piece soon. Many of the watches shown were not included in the press kit, so further information has to be retrieved from the people who will presumably have to sleep for a week, to compensate for th...
It will be "freaking" hard to read the minute on the Diavolo...
esp between 15-30 minutes. The dial also becomes too busy. I still prefer the regular freak. If only the blue phantom becomes "black" phantom..
It is not so bad ....
... but please note that my picture met the Freak in its worst phase, legibility-wise. Regards, Marcus
Any idea
Any idea what size the El Toro case is? Looks like it's the same 45mm size as the Diver Perpetual from last year.
Very nice looking new pieces.
I'm especially attracted to the El Toro and Dual Time GMT. Looking forward to seeing these in the metal. Thanks for posting.
I was pleasantly surprised by the El Toro myself ...
Being an avid fan of the very classic, original GMT Perpetual, I was always a bit hesitant, regarding the more modern case and dial designs, such as the larger "Sonata-style" Perpetual, or the "Quadrato". But I have to admit that the "El Toro" really look...
Thanks for posting this
The Dual Time GMT gold and slate dial... 'Mare de deu'!! as we say in Catalonia (i.e., the french would pronounce maybe a 'mon dieu') It is very very stunning!!! Terrific incarnation of this model. The rest are absolutely fresh as only UN can do! Thanks f...
Hi Sebastien, the new Dual Time GMT ....
... also caught my eye immediately.Very refreshingly modern, but still elegant. Regards, Marcus
UN sure ain't cowards and sure ain't boring, are they.
Thanks you Marcus!! Well, I don't like the Toro one bit, BUT! Every detail is to die for! What do I mean? Well, everything about the watch is stunning, except the whole--it's overloaded and crazy, yet... amazingly beautiful and terribly ugly! Very.... UN!...
I love your strong opinion! ....
... and to a certain degree, I can share it. However, I think that the El Toro really leaves a harmonious impression as a whole. BUT - BIG but - you really have to see it on the wrist personally. I think this is a watch that can be easily misunderstood, w...
Laughing
That was funny, Marcus. Thanks again, I always enjoy reading, not only looking, at your reports. No doubt El Toro must be seen in the metal.
I like the Pink Gold El Toro! Really, no bull!
Bold but somehow refined, loud, but not discordant, and the brown is cool! Best, Jed
My word ....
I, too, prefer the pink gold variant to the platinum one; the brown "Dial" looks more special, IMHO. Regards, Marcus
I eat mt hat for freakfast today. The Black Diavolo looks fantastic!
I've always said the Freak should stay in its original form but in the Diavolo, its looks fantastic! So I humbly take my words back...not that I would give up my original freak for this but if the means allow, to add it is a consideration form the get go ...
The Diavolo is actually not that complicated to read.
Hi all, If you all go to HOrological MEandering (I just got it - HOME!!!! - so I'm slow), look at VMM's pictures. He has pictures of the Diavolo. The hour hand is not the tourbillon but there is an hour hand below it. If you look closely at Marcus's pictu...
Mitch,
I looked again, and again, and again, I didn't find the hour hand below the Tourbillon... To me, the hour hand is the point of the arrow on the tourbillon, and it is turning with the tourbillon... But I may be wrong... Never mind, it is a very appealing w...
Especially for Nico, the hour hand revealed!!
Got it? As on all "Freaks", the "hour hand" is an arrowhead on the upper lid of the large mainspring barrel, which rotates once every twelve hours. The "minute hand" is the tip of the carrousel movement bridge, rotating once every 60 minutes. On the pic a...
Stupid me!
Ok, now alles is clear! Thanks, Marcus. I was so hypnotized by the Tourbillon that I couldn't notice it! Best, Nicolas
This new picture really help :-)
As I tought the hour hand was below (hidden by) the minute hand. So I was reading 7:35 Funny I'm reading this post now because I've just received today an email from a french AD to let me know about this new Freak Thanks for your report. Pascal
a Freak with a conventional escapement?
Hi Marcus, This is a great report with fantastic pictures and it's always a pleasure to what UN is up to. Thanks! In the pictures of the Diavolo, it appears to show a conventionally shaped escape wheel (in silicium or similar by the looks of it) on the to...
Thank you Marcus.....
for a great and lengthy report.... the diavolo is to be seen..... cheers