The watchmaking house of Ulysse Nardin is joining in with the Chinese New Year Celebrations by launching a special edition timepiece that honors the upcoming Year of the Monkey that starts on February 8, 2016.
The latest member of the Ulysse Nardin Classico Collection boasts a beautifully encrusted dial graced with an image of the monkey. The interesting depiction of the monkey has been designed in a comic strip-like style where the monkey appears as if it leaps through a brush of palm fronds. Furthermore, the artist was able to capture the playfulness and lively character of the monkey and the expression on monkey’s face.
The dial has been made with the champlevé enameling technique which consists of cells that are carved with a chisel directly on the dial and then filled with enamel. The master enamellers have chosen a neutral palette, whereas the colors were generated from different metallic oxides. According to this centuries old tradition, the dial is then fired until the enamel fuses, and after it cools off, the surface is polished to reveal a captivating decoration. The enameling technique is executed by the masters at Donzé Cadrans. This rare art form is mastered by very few artisans.
Ulysse Nardin Year of the Monkey Watch is housed in an 18-karat rose gold case which measures 40mm in diameter. The watch is equipped with the in-house manufactured caliber UN-815 self-winding movement that boasts the original COSC chronometer certificate. This caliber is based on the ETA-2892, modified for a sweep seconds hand by Ulysse Nardin who also added a gold rotor to the mechanism.
The impeccable automatic movement provides functions for hours, minutes, and seconds, and it is capable to store enough energy to keep the watch working for at least 42 hours when fully wound. The movement is protected against the ingress of water up to 50 meters (about 165 feet). The inner beauty of the mechanism can bee seen via an open sapphire crystal case back.
Ulysse Nardin Year of the Monkey Watch (ref. 81052-11-2/SINGE) comes with a sleek, black leather strap, ending with a rose gold tang buckle. The watch is produced in the limited series of only 88 pieces. The number eight is considered to be a lucky number in Chinese and other Asian cultures.
