Ulysse Nardin Freak X Owner Review : Extravagant, hypnotic and rare

An ONHI is an unidentified flying object.. and nothing is more appropriate to describe this UN Freak. The 1st generation of Freak is 20 years old, but looking at it, you'd think it came out yesterday. A hell of a look and a tourbillon function (more or less) it's unique. Let's start with the design of the beast. The balance is attached to the minute hand, so it turns in 60 minutes around the dial, same purpose as a tourbillon (said that this one does it in 60 seconds). No idea of the impact on chronometry, I've never measured its precision and honestly I doubt we'll gain much.. but damn it's beautiful and hypnotizing. Reading the time isn't always super easy, but in 2 seconds you can spot the hands and it's done. The titanium makes it incredibly comfortable to wear. Despite its 43mm size, it sits well on a small wrist. Technology-wise, the Freak was the first watch to use silicon on the escapement and regulation organs, the same here on this Freak X. It took me a while to succumb to this UN. It is clearly not a watch with which one begins a collection. But in terms of technology, look, versatility, comfort and rarity, it is a must-have. The X is quite well placed in price, compared to other Swiss tourbillons already, and compared to its sister One which costs much more (but with an even more crazy design and all the cogs on the dial side). From a fun curiosity object in the window, it has become an icon in my eyes and on my wrist and I love it, it is a real favorite.