Comprehensive Review: the new Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue
We took the Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue for a month's fling, and came away impressed with this freaky beast. Here is our comprehensive review.
4,161 articles · 493 videos found · page 5 of 156
We took the Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue for a month's fling, and came away impressed with this freaky beast. Here is our comprehensive review.
Quill & Pad
When Ball Watch asked Dietmar Fuchs to test dive one of the company’s newest watches, the Engineer Master II Diver Chronometer, he hesitated at first. Ball didn’t jingle a diving bell for him, but something else from its history jangled: a brand’s “history” section is always the first thing he checks before testing a watch and he discovered Ball Watch has the credentials. So he dove in and now shares his experience and thoughts on the watch here.
Deployant
"It's all about the dial, isn't it mesmerizing?" she exclaimed. Well the dial in question belongs to the Bell & Ross BR-05 Skeleton Arctic Blue.
Time+Tide
Grand Seiko outfits the Icefall dial with a 40mm High-Intensity Titanium case.The post Grand Seiko makes the SBGH349 Icefall larger, but also more lightweight – and also proves a trend appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Christopher Ward just released the C1 Bel Canto Classic, a new version of its best-selling hourstriker in four colours: silver, blue, green and gold. The Bel Canto Classic retains the familiar design of the original, but gains updated dial aesthetics with laser-etched guilloché, Roman numerals, and a domed “glassbox” sapphire crystal. Initial thoughts A hit at launch thanks to its affordability – and a well-timed debut while pandemic-induced demand was strong – the Bel Canto is now Christopher Ward’s best known model. The reason behind its success is obvious - the striking hour complication is rare and even rarer at an affordable price. Because of the price, the Bel Canto is executed simply and functionally. The base movement is an inexpensive Sellita SW200-1, while the striking module is clever and fairly basic in construction. But the module has been smartly constructed to expose much of the strikework, giving the watch a complex appearance. The hammer and wire gong visible above the dial plate, along with the main operating lever and a column wheel selector. The Bel Canto Classic is essentially an evolution of the original model, with the dial updates giving it a slightly more classical appearance. Priced at US$4,540 on a titanium bracelet, the Bel Canto Classic remains a good value proposition, like the original. Affordable chimes on the hour The Bel Canto Classic retains the same proportions, with the titanium case measuring 41 mm in diameter and 13.2 mm ...
Video
Deployant
We took a close look at our friend Brighty's Christopher Ward Bel Canto Viola, and bring you this comprehensive hands-on review.
Time+Tide
Sometimes it is just black and white.The post The Maurice Lacroix Aikon Ceramic makes the material more attainable and stronger appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Breguet adds a new ‘Breguet Blue’ configuration to its Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077 (first launched in 2015).The post The latest Breguet Blue Tradition Chronographe Indépendant 7077 is a reminder the brand is Holy Trinity level appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
SJX Watches
Ulysse Nardin has been breathing new life into its flagship Freak collection for the past several years, and the latest model to benefit from this focus is the Freak One Navy Blue, featuring a blue dial that pays homage to the original Freak from 2001. And that’s fitting, because the Freak One collection is a retelling of the story, imagining what the Freak would look like if it were to debut in the present day. Initial thoughts I’ve always had a great deal of respect for the Freak, though I admit I have not always been attracted to the aesthetic. That started to change for me when the design language started evolving to its current, more futuristic form. The Freak Vision of 2018 was the first step in this direction, but the model that really convinced me was the Freak S Nomad launched earlier this year. What makes these watches so satisfying is the way the mechanics have been reimagined to become the central design element; the time is revealed as the movement walks its way around the dial. In many ways, the One can be seen as the little brother to the Freak S. At 44 mm, the One is a fraction smaller than its more complicated sibling, but shares much of the same construction and materials. The case is titanium and finished with a black DLC coating, while the bezel is made of recycled carbon fibre composite. Like the Freak S, the One wears smaller than its dimensions suggest, thanks in part to its muted colours and the way the central carrousel draws the eye. The mater...
Time+Tide
The Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue introduces the fan-favourite colour into the anything-but-conventional collection.The post The Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue brings a crowd-favourite hue into the lineup appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Video
We return to the newness on episode 93 of A Week in Watches. There have been a lot of very interesting releases in the last few weeks, ranging from new versions of popular watches to new complications from unexpected sources. The episode begins by looking at the Christopher Ward Bel Canto Classic, a neo-traditional take on the brand’s runaway hit. Following this, we leave Earth to discuss the Omega x Swatch MoonSwatch Mission to Earth Phase. Yes, it’s another MoonSwatch, but this one does something no other watch has done before. Afterward, we discuss the new Tudor Pelagos FXD GMT. The first Pelagos GMT from the ever-popular brand, it brings the FXD back to its military roots. Finally, we talk about some new Seiko Prospex divers that, to be frank, have us altogether confused. This week’s episode is brought to you by the Windup Watch Shop, where the all new the Timex X Worn & Wound WW75 V3 is now available. Limited to 500 per color and priced at $239, these fun, colorful watches were inspired by the end of summer and a desire to keep it going. Pick one up today at Windup Watch Shop. The post A Week in Watches Ep. 93: Tudor Answers our Prayers and the Bel Canto Plays On appeared first on Worn & Wound.
Worn & Wound
Over the course of two years, the Bel Canto has fundamentally changed the way many watch lovers view Christopher Ward. This has been discussed in depth here and elsewhere, and is without a doubt one of the biggest stories in the watch world in the last decade or so. It’s changed the brand itself in a meaningful way as well. To meet demand since the launch of the Bel Canto, Christopher Ward has increased production of the watch from 50 pieces per month to 500, and there’s still a months long wait. That means that we haven’t seen Christopher Ward operate from the usual playbook when a brand has a hit new release. There have been vanishingly few limited editions and collaborative versions of the Bel Canto, with the brand instead electing to concentrate on fulfilling a backlog of orders. That’s admirable, in my opinion, but it means we haven’t seen much in the way of refinements or updates to the core Bel Canto design. And that’s perfectly fine. The Bel Canto is still very much a new watch in the grand scheme of watch history, and certainly doesn’t need an update. Today, though, marks a new chapter in the short history of the Bel Canto with the launch of the new C1 Bel Canto Classic. This is the first serious adjustment to the look and feel of the Bel Canto since the watch debuted in the fall of 2022. The changes are (mostly) pretty subtle, but it offers a small glimpse of how the watch might continue to be refined in the future. The most obvious change in th...
Monochrome
If we asked our regular readers to name two of the most attractively priced watches with a striking hour complication, the C1 Bel Canto from Christopher Ward would definitely be one of them – the other would be the MeisterSinger Bell Hora. This British brand introduced its sonnerie au passage timepiece in late 2022, and […]
Fratello
Christopher Ward surprised friend and foe with the C1 Bel Canto in November 2022. It perfectly symbolized the brand’s talent for democratizing luxury watches. Today, one day before the model’s second anniversary, CW introduces a new version. I have had the chance to try the new Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Classic. This is how […] Visit Hands-On With The New Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto Classic to read the full article.
Fratello
What better way to celebrate the dark day of Halloween than with some scary wristwear? I’m not talking about electrified watches that’ll zap you in the night, but it could mean some newfound color for your watch box. In fact, some Halloween watches are cool all year round. This year, I have found great examples, […] Visit Halloween Watches: Be Afraid, Very Afraid This Year! - Ghoulish Wristwear From Bell & Ross, Mr Jones, Scurfa, And More to read the full article.
Video
Fratello
I am a big fan of the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition,” but the Black Bay Chrono? Not so much. Neither the black and white versions nor the steel and gold model ever struck a chord with me. And the pink version? Well, once I saw it on a wrist in Geneva, it made […] Visit Chasing My Doubts And Blues Away With The Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Blue” Boutique Edition to read the full article.
Quill & Pad
Ball Watch have stepped up their game with an innovative mechanical alarm watch with second time zone and a manufacture automatic movement plus their trademark super bright tritium tubes that light up the night. This is no chirping cricket!
Time+Tide
We take a closer look at the delectable green-blue hues of the new GS Atera Blue.The post The Grand Seiko SLGA025 Atera Blue may have one of the best dials the brand has ever made appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
Ulysse Nardin revisits their iconic Freak with the Freak One released in 2023. For this year, they released the latest - the Freak One Navy Blue.
Monochrome
Bell & Ross is among the few watch brands that place luminescence at the heart of their designs, a bold approach that dates to 2019 with the BR 03-92 Full Lum, which featured a dial entirely coated in Super-LumiNova. However, this experimentation began in 2017 with the BR 03-92 Horolum and BR 03-92 Nightlum in […]
Video
Fratello
Bow down. The Freak deserves your respect. In fact, the Freak is the mack daddy of everything we call Nouvelle Horlogerie. In 2001, a bizarre and unexpected watch appeared from the Ulysse Nardin atelier in Le Locle, and it shook the world of watchmaking on its very foundations. This world was not yet ready for […] Visit Take It Easy, Everyone - It’s Only The New Ulysse Nardin Freak One Navy Blue to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Bell & Ross is expanding on their enthusiast focused BR-X5 with a boutique edition iridescent dial variant, housing their manufacture calibre BR-CAL.323. For those that aren’t already familiar with the BR-X5 launched in 2022, this is a relatively higher tier regular production watch compared to the rest of the Bell & Ross lineup – featuring a semi-skeletonized weight minimizing case that has been hollowed out on the sides, from the lugs and down through the crown guards. While the main features and aesthetic design of the watch have remained relatively untouched from the previous variants, the iridescent dial is the star of the show on this new reference, creating playful hue transitions from blue to green, with hints of purple. The color shifting is very similar to that seen on the shell of a beetle, or on mother of pearl dials, but in this instance the light effect isn’t naturally created, rather it’s a chemical creation derived from multiple thin layers of PVD coating. Not only does the dial have a one of a kind manufacturing process, but the effect has been accentuated by overlaying it with a sunray effect. The overall vibe of what used to be a more serious, tool-like watch, is now toned down a touch to bring in some casual playfulness. The BR-CAL.323 automatic movement beats at 28,800 VPH, and is holding a generous 70 hours of power reserve which makes the watch a great daily wear contender. The movement has also been designed to display a rather large pow...
Deployant
Introducing the next iteration of the Bell & Ross BR-X5 collection with the new Iridescent. A very unusual looking watch which may be just your cup of tea. Press Release information with commentary in italics. New: Bell & Ross BR-X5 Iridescent The Bell & Ross BR-X5 Iridescent retails at SGD 11,500 in rubber strap andRead More
Monochrome
Bell & Ross made a name for itself with its aeroplane cockpit instrument-inspired collections, but the brand has never confined itself solely to military aesthetics. In 2019, the Paris-based brand introduced the BR-05 collection, described as its urban range – a stylish series designed for those roaming the concrete jungle. While true to the brand´s […]
Monochrome
Alright, I must admit that we’re a bit late to the party when it comes to reviewing the Christopher Ward Bel Canto… A fault confessed is half-redressed. But we’ll do better, as it’s time for us to have a closer look at this watch. The Bel Canto has been under MONOCHROME’s radar ever since its […]
Video
Question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Drop a note.