This year, Ulysse Nardin marks its 170th year of founding, and the 20th anniversary of the Marine collection. To coincide with these milestones, the manufacture released the technically impressive Marine Grand Deck, which came complete with a miniature boom on its dial to mark the minutes. At close to half a million dollars, however, the Marine Grand Deck was out of reach for most buyers, even if they could secure one of its 18 limited pieces. Fortunately, Ulysse Nardin also released a more accessible option that doesn’t scrimp on technical content, while also observing the design codes that pay tribute to the brand’s history of producing marine chronometers – the Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronograph Annual Calendar.

Simplicity is the common thread running through the tapestry of this watch, which combines two perennially useful complications – the chronograph and the annual calendar. For a start, the information is all displayed in a clutter-free way with just three sub-dials and a date aperture, by combining the small seconds counter and month display. Functionally, the annual calendar only requires an adjustment once a year at the end of February, which simplifies the ownership experience. Should the timepiece stop running and a date adjustment be required, however, the annual calendar’s display can also be corrected easily via the crown in both directions. What makes this even more impressive is the components needed for the complication – just a dozen, three more than its sibling Calibre UN-118’s simple calendar.

For its design, the Marine Chronograph Annual Calendar leans towards classic styling, although performance-oriented details are still present. The timepiece’s blue, white, and metallic grey tones recall the sea while imparting an understated elegance, complemented by Roman numeral indexes and classic hand styles. Two notable dashes of red are present though, and highlight the watch’s pedigree – Ulysse Nardin’s year of founding is printed at six o’clock in the color, which the hand indicating the month is also rendered in as a nod to the annual calendar complication underneath. To allow elapsed time to be measured accurately, the chapter ring on the flange is sub-divided down to the quarters of a second – the smallest interval the 28,800bph movement, which has a silicon balance spring and escapement, can measure.

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 43mm
  Functions: Hours, minutes, date, month, annual calendar
• Power Reserve: 52 hours
  Movement: Self-winding Ulysse Nardin UN-153 movement with chronograph and annual calendar
  Material: Steel
  Water Resistant: 100 meters
  Strap: Navy blue alligator with steel deployant buckle

This article was first published in World of Watches.