The chronology of Ulysse Nardin

2011	Launch of the Alexander the Great masterpiece. April 2011, death of Mr. Rolf Schnyder, owner of the brand. Ms. Chai Schnyder was appointed president of the Board of Directors. Mr. Patrik P. Hoffmann was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ulysse Nardin.
2010	Launch of the Freak Diavolo - an evolution of the iconic Freak. Launch of the El Toro Perpetual Calendar. Opening of the diamond coated silicium watch components production center in Sion.
2009	Launch of Moonstruck and Planet Earth, two revolutionary astronomical timepieces with the distinct DNA of Dr. Ludwig Oechslin.
2008	Launch of Sonata Silicium Limited Edition – material revolution continues.
2007	Launch of the Freak DIAMonSIL® - new patented Dual Ulysse Escapement made out of diamond and silicium. InnoVision – Ulysse Nardin’s vision of the future - 10 technical innovations united in one concept watch.
2006	Launch of the first in-house conceived and executed selfwinding base caliber, UN-160. History in Time Exhibition – Ulysse Nardin celebrates a fabulous and historical event in the Kremlin.
2005	Launch of the Freak 28’800 V/h Diamond Heart – new patented Dual Ulysse Escapement made out of Diamond by means of an innovative process. Launch of the Royal Blue Tourbillon and the Quadrato Dual Time Perpetual.
2004	Launch of the Minute Repeater Circus. Innovation Prize - Watch of the Year 2004 for the Sonata.
2003	The Genghis Khan is awarded with the "Chronos Innovation Prize 2003". Launch of the Sonata – unique and amazing multifunctional mechanical instrument.
2002	Launch of the Genghis Khan - the first ever Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts Minute repeater.
2001	Launch of the Freak – 7 day-tourbillon-carrousel which later in the year wins the "Chronos Innovation Prize 2001". Poetry in watchmaking without hands, without a crown
2000	"Chronos", the German watch magazine awards Ulysse Nardin the Watch of the Year 2000 "Innovation Prize". Both the readers and the international panel of judges voted the GMT Perpetual as the most outstanding technical development.
1999	To mark the beginning of the new millennium, Ulysse Nardin introduces the GMT± Perpetual, two unique and exclusive Ulysse Nardin creations integrated into one watch.
1998	Launch of the single-button chronograph “Pulsometer” to commemorate Ulysse Nardin’s 175th birthday in 1823.
1996	The company’s 150th anniversary is celebrated with the introduction of the Marine Chronometer 1846 as a wristwatch and the revolutionary Perpetual Ludwig named after its creator Dr. Ludwig Oechslin.
1994	At the Basle fair the GMT± intended for frequent travelers is shown. Patent No. CH 685 965.
1993	Launch of the Automaton San Marco “Hourstriker” model and the “Cloisonné” Boat collection.
1992	Completion of the “Trilogy of Time” with the Tellurium Johannes Kepler, as a tribute to the German astronomer.
1989	Production of the first minute-repeating wristwatch with automaton, the San Marco made in a limited edition in gold or platinum, and the split-seconds chronograph Berlin
1988	Launching of the wristwatch Planetarium Copernicus designed to commemorate the Polish astronomer.
1985	Launching of the watch Astrolabium Galileo Galilei. Named after the great physicist, astronomer and humanist. Ulysse Nardin resumes its successful path, and also gains an entry in the Guinness Book of Records in February 1989.
1983	A group headed by Rolf W. Schnyder takes over the company.
1975	Neuchâtel Observatory releases its last official publication concerning the performance of chronometers covering the period from 1846 to 1975. According to this report Ulysse Nardin obtained 4324 certificates of performance for mechanical marine chronometers out of a total of 4504 awarded, i.e. 95%, 2411 special prizes out of which 1069 were First Prizes.Ulysse Nardin also obtained 747 First Prizes in the categories deck watch, pocket chronometer and wristwatch.At various International Exhibitions Ulysse Nardin and his successors obtained: 14 Grands Prix (First Prizes), the “Prize Medal” and the “Progress Medal”, 10 Gold Medals, 2 Prix d’Honneur, 2 Silver Medals.
1964	At the Swiss National Exhibition in Lausanne, Ulysse Nardin SA obtains the only “Prix d’Honneur” for the “Sun-star” deck watch.
1950	At the Neuchâtel Observatory with a chronometer adjusted by Louis Augsburger, the Nardin company breaks all records for chronometer performances since 1901.
1939	First Prizes in the International Exhibitions of Barcelona, Zürich and New York for Nardin chronometers. Each was awarded with a Gold Medal.
1935	A new 24" split-seconds pocket chronograph beating tenths of a second is introduced. Useful for sports timing, numerous Prizes and Gold Medals attest to its success.
1923	At the Observatory of Neuchâtel in an International Chronometer Competition organized to mark the centenary of the death of Abraham-Louis Breguet, Ernest Nardin carries off the only First Prize.
1922	At the US Naval Observatory trials Nardin marine chronometers take the first three places and have eight instruments in the first fourteen. First Prize in the Tokyo International Exhibition.
1916	Ulysse Nardin produces a new movement. Its small dimension 13" allows it to be used in pocket or wristwatches.
1915	At the Naval Observatory, Washington DC, Ulysse Nardin takes first place among 60 marine chronometers entered. In the same trial the company takes three of the first five places among 217 deck watches entered.
1911	Paul-David takes out his third Swiss patent (No. 54714, January 21) for a perfected control mechanism for the timing-wheel in chronographic timers. The purpose of this invention was to eliminate the uncontrolled leap of the chronograph-wheel which could provoke errors difficult to detect.
1910	At the Buenos-Aires Centenary Universal Exhibition, Ulysse Nardin is awarded First Prize and a Gold Medal.
1908	Tokyo : The Mikado and the Crown Prince purchase three Nardin pocket chronometers.
1906	First Prize and Gold Medal at the Milan International Exhibition. At the Naval Observatory, Washington, DC, USA, Nardin chronometers take the first seven places. A Nardin chronometer breaks all performance records in the Hamburg Observatory trials.
1904	Marine chronometers are supplied to both the Russian and the Japanese admiralties. Following the Russo-Japanese War, the Imperial Government of Japan increases its orders and becomes one of the company’s principal customers.
1900	As of this date, nine pocket chronometers fitted with tourbillon escapements were made by Paul-David Nardin.
1893	First Prize at the Chicago Universal Exhibition. A remarkable chronometer in a gold and silver decorated case with a relief-engraved allegory of the Arts and Sciences is shown. Gold Medal in the category “Marine and pocket chronometers”.
1890	December 20, two Swiss patents are awarded, one is for a mechanism for chronometers which permits daily winding without reversing the bowl. This system would be applied to the cylindrical aluminium cases launched from about 1893 onwards.
1878	Paul-David Nardin obtains a Gold Medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition for his pocket and marine chronometers.
1876	February 20, death of Ulysse Nardin, probably from a heart attack at the age of 53. The 21-year old Paul-David takes over control of the company.
1865	The company moves to its present premises at 3 rue du Jardin.
1862	At the London International Exhibition, the company receives the highest award, “The Prize Medal” in the category “Complicated watches, pocket chronometers”. The award puts Ulysse in the lead internationally among pocket chronometer makers.
1860	Ulysse acquires a high-precision astronomical regulator to rate his pocket chronometers. This is the well-known regulator constructed by Jacques-Frédéric Houriet in about 1768. It is now in the Château des Monts, Le Locle. First exports to the USA. Minute repeaters, highly complicated watches, and pocket chronometers carry the reputation of the maker in Le Locle far and wide.
1846	The ULYSSE NARDIN company is founded. It is the beginning of an enterprise that has already lasted more than 155 years. The first watches made are exported to Central and South America through a Paris go-between, Lucien Dubois, who was Nardin’s only customer for two years.
1823	Ulysse Nardin was born on 22 January at Le Locle. After initial training by his father, Léonard-Frédéric, he is sent to William Dubois, considered to be one of the leading precision watchmakers of his days.