For 2017, legendary Swiss watchmakers Ulysse Nardin introduce a limited edition of their legendary alarm watch, the Classic Sonata. Baroque Access finds out all the details
Now featuring a subtler design than previous models, and fusing good looks with functionality, the new Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata is as captivating as its predecessors, but boasts some stunning new features. The highlight of this alarm watch with dual-time function is its chiming system, which is the sound of a cathedral gong. This popular timepiece from the Ulysse Nardin stable previously featured a ‘Marine’ style, and the new iteration is subtler, and also comes in a steel option. Simply put, the traditional mechanical arm watches chime by using a mainspring that is tensioned to power a hammer that strikes on resounding parts. Sometimes it’s a bell, other watches have a gong, and in other cases it’s the watch itself.
Enter the Ulysse Nardin Classic Sonata, where the alarm is much more complicated. While it still does the same thing as the other timepieces, i.e. striking as a reminder, the Sonata chimes by using a cathedral gong and a hammer. The very long cathedral gong gives of a complex, loud chiming sound. The rhythm or speed of this sound is controlled by a special oscillator. The watch boasts a number of other great features – it’s easy to adjust all the functions, for one, and there’s an automatic winding system as well.
The dial is divided into hours, minutes and seconds. At 4 o’clock there’s a simple date display and at 6 o’clock there’s a dual-time display. The alarm functions are located on the upper half of the face. At 10 o’clock one finds the indicator that shows whether the alarm is on or off. Between 12 and 3 ‘o clock there’s a sub-dial with a 12-hour display that is used to adjust the alarm time. The alarm itself it set at 9 o’clock. The watch is powered by the caliber UN-67 movement, an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
In addition, the sub-dial indicates the power reserve for the alarm compilation. The newer, subtler version of the Classic Sonata boasts a more classical dial with no texture on it and no luminous hands. It’s far more elegant with baton indexes, a simple dial and leaf hands. The case remains the same size – 44mm – and there are several pushers and crowns, used to activate this unique masterpiece of horology.
lysee Nardin’s 2017 Classic Sonata falls into the brand’s new Classic collection, of which there are six. It comes in two versions – stainless steel with a dial of a silvery-white color, blue indexes and hands, or an 18-karat rose gold timepiece with a black dial and blue hands and indexes. Both are 30m water resistant and limited to 99 pieces. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but the steel version is expected to retail at around $28,000.