Ulysse Nardin expands core Freak collection, unveiling Freak [X Ops]

The latest news from Ulysse Nardin emerged at last week’s Watches & Wonders Shanghai, which saw the marine-linked brand unveil a new product, the Freak [X Ops].

An addition to the disruptive Freak collection, a quick run-down of the model’s history shows its unprecedented launch in 2001 showcased a watch with no dial, no hands and no crown.

Instead, the movement bridges doubled as the hands and, in 2019, the Freak X came along. An evolution of the range, it boasted a similar pared back design – still no dial or hands – but this time featuring a crown. Developments included a lightweight silicon balance wheel with nickel flyweights and, introduced with the Freak X Magma, the innovative use of carbon fibre and epoxy resin to form the case flanks.

The Freak [X Ops] takes this design and gives it an off-duty feel, offering the spirit of the Freak X in a unique new colourway. With a black DLC titanium case, bezel and crown, and khaki green and black carbon fibre composite flanks, its fair to say the Ops (that’s “operations”) proffers a distinctly adventurous, military aesthetic. Meanwhile, the khaki fabric strap is made from 100% recycled fishing nets, nodding to the brand’s marine connections and history as creators of pioneering marine chronometers and naval navigation tools.

The brand’s technical expertise is matched with its creative vision, with details such as the khaki green low-light illumination on the hour and minute indicators paired with a precision UN-230 self-winding movement with 72-hour power reserve.

Another final – subtle, yet attractive – feature is that no two cases are quite the same. To create the case’s Damascus steel-inspired effect, carbon fibre and epoxy resin are woven together in unique patterns, giving the Freak [X Ops] its signature three-dimensional look.

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