Le Locle, Switzerland
Ulysse Nardin
Partially verifiedMarine chronometers and precision deck watches
History
Le Locle firm that specialised in marine chronometry and precision observation watches, supplying navies and observatories and accumulating a substantial record in observatory timing trials.
Ulysse Nardin founded his eponymous company in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland, where he specialized in high-precision timekeeping instruments and marine chronometers. Following the founder's sudden death in 1876, his son Paul-David Nardin took over the business and continued its expansion into global naval markets. The firm faced significant challenges during the quartz crisis but was revived in 1983 by Rolf W. Schnyder, who steered the brand toward complicated timepieces. After a period under the Kering group starting in 2014, the company was acquired by the Sowind Group SA following a management buyout in 2022.
The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Timeline
Ulysse Nardin's recorded dates, dated events from this profile and its sources, and dated pieces and sales from the object catalogue. Dates are as each record gives them.
1846 · Career
Founded (Le Locle)
1846 · Career
Ulysse Nardin founded his eponymous company in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland, where he specialized in high-precision timekeeping instruments and marine chronometers.
1846 · Career
Ulysse Nardin introduced its first marine chronometer wristwatch, titled the Marine Chronometer 1846, in 1996.
1876 · Career
Following the founder's sudden death in 1876, his son Paul-David Nardin took over the business and continued its expansion into global naval markets.
circa 1880 · Catalogued piece
circa 1905 · Catalogued piece
circa 1910 · Catalogued piece
circa 1920 · Catalogued piece
circa 1935 · Catalogued piece
circa 1940 · Catalogued piece
circa 1955 · Catalogued piece
1983 · Career
The firm faced significant challenges during the quartz crisis but was revived in 1983 by Rolf W.
Major innovations
- Sustained series production of marine chronometers and deck watches to naval specification
- The company launched its first automatic in-house caliber, UN-118, in 2012.
- Ulysse Nardin introduced its first marine chronometer wristwatch, titled the Marine Chronometer 1846, in 1996.
Known markings
- 'Ulysse Nardin Locle & Genève'
- Naval issue markings on supplied instruments
Serial numbers
Naval and observatory supply records exist in institutional archives; dating usually requires both maker and institutional sources.
Collecting significance
Provenance documents and unrestored original dials are the key research points.
Identification and dating notes
- Timepieces produced before 1975 may be identified by their performance certificates issued by the Neuchâtel Observatory.
In the object catalogue
40 catalogued objects are recorded under Ulysse Nardin. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- Ladies Ulysse Nardin WristwatchJewellery & cocktail watch · circa 1940
- Ulysse Nardin 'Astrolabium Galileo Galilei' Ref. 911-22Calendar & moon-phase watch · 1990s
- Ulysse Nardin Astrolabium Galileo Galilei ref. 910-22Calendar & moon-phase watch · Circa 1990
- Ulysse Nardin Automatic 36000 Chronometer Date WatchAutomatic wristwatch · c. 1970s
- Ulysse Nardin Chronometer Co. automatic wristwatch, caliber Felsa Bidynator 690Automatic wristwatch · circa 1940's
- Ulysse Nardin Chronometer Split-Seconds ChronographChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1955
- Ulysse Nardin Chronometre Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · September 1938
- Ulysse Nardin Classico Hayashi Tokeishu Limited EditionAutomatic wristwatch
- Ulysse Nardin Corps of Engineers U.S.A. pocket watchMilitary pocket watch · circa 1918
- Ulysse Nardin Deck ChronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1952
- Ulysse Nardin Deck Watch No. 29938Pocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1941
- Ulysse Nardin Electric Marine ChronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · 1970s
Show 28 more
- Ulysse Nardin Freak Reference 016-88Automatic wristwatch · circa 2007
- Ulysse Nardin Hunter Case Minute Repeating Pocket WatchRepeating watch · circa 1889
- Ulysse Nardin Keyless ChronographChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1935
- Ulysse Nardin Le Locle Marine Chronometer WristwatchAutomatic wristwatch
- Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronograph Ref. 513-22Chronograph · circa 2000
- Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer 41mmAutomatic wristwatch · 2013
- Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer No. 6903Two-day marine chronometer · circa late 1950s
- Ulysse Nardin Marine Diver ChronometerDiver's watch · 2000s
- Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Chronometer 1846 Ref. 265-66-3T/60 WristwatchAutomatic wristwatch · 2016
- Ulysse Nardin Michelangelo Ref. 233-48Automatic wristwatch · 2000s
- Ulysse Nardin Mono-Pusher ChronographChronograph · 1942
- Ulysse Nardin Perpetual Calendar GMT Ref. 320-22Perpetual calendar watch · 1990s
- Ulysse Nardin Quartz Marine ChronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · circa 1980
- Ulysse Nardin Ref. 541-22 Pink Gold Chronograph Wristwatch with Moon Phase and DateChronograph · Circa 1995
- Ulysse Nardin Savonnette Pocket WatchHunter-case watch · circa 1910
- Ulysse Nardin Silver Chronometer Deck WatchPocket chronometer & deck watch · 1942
- Ulysse Nardin Silver Deck Watch with BoxPocket chronometer & deck watch · c. 1940
- Ulysse Nardin Split Seconds Deck ChronometerChronograph & split-seconds watch · Circa 1940
- Ulysse Nardin Split-Seconds Doctor's Pocket WatchChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1905
- Ulysse Nardin Tourbillon Regulator Pocket ChronometerTourbillon & karrusel watch · circa 1940
- Ulysse Nardin two-day marine chronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · circa 1947
- Ulysse Nardin two-day ship's chronometer, no. 846Two-day marine chronometer · First half 20th century
- Ulysse Nardin x Urwerk UR-Freak Titanium WristwatchAutomatic wristwatch · circa 2025
- Ulysse Nardin Yellow Gold Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · circa 1925
- Ulysses Nardin Hunting Cased Chronograph Minute RepeaterRepeating watch
- Ulysses Nardin Manual Wind Deck Pocket ChronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1920
- Ulysses Nardin Manual Wind Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · circa 1880
- Ulysses Nardin San Marco 'Corrida' ChronometerAutomatic wristwatch · circa 2000
Provenance
Where the 40 catalogued pieces by Ulysse Nardin were recorded, with the collectors, owners and sales their records name.
Provenance map
Each piece is linked to the museum, auction house or dealer whose record it comes from, and to any other house or collection its own provenance names. Select a name to see its pieces.
Museums · 1 piece
Auction houses · 31 pieces
Dealers & other listings · 8 pieces
Antiquorum
Auction house · 22 pieces · Directory entry
Ulysse Nardin 'Astrolabium Galileo Galilei' Ref. 911-22Calendar & moon-phase watch · 1990s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 283
Ulysse Nardin Chronometer Split-Seconds ChronographChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1955 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 29
Ulysse Nardin Chronometre Chronograph WristwatchChronograph · September 1938 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 130
Ulysse Nardin Deck ChronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1952 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 258
Ulysse Nardin Electric Marine ChronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · 1970s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 505
Ulysse Nardin Freak Reference 016-88Automatic wristwatch · circa 2007 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 69
Ulysse Nardin Keyless ChronographChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1935 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 242
Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronograph Ref. 513-22Chronograph · circa 2000 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 154
Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer No. 6903Two-day marine chronometer · circa late 1950s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 133
Ulysse Nardin Marine Diver ChronometerDiver's watch · 2000s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 279
Ulysse Nardin Michelangelo Ref. 233-48Automatic wristwatch · 2000s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 664
Ulysse Nardin Perpetual Calendar GMT Ref. 320-22Perpetual calendar watch · 1990s · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 412
Ulysse Nardin Quartz Marine ChronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · circa 1980 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 55
Ulysse Nardin Split Seconds Deck ChronometerChronograph & split-seconds watch · Circa 1940 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 136
Ulysse Nardin Split-Seconds Doctor's Pocket WatchChronograph & split-seconds watch · circa 1905 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 328
Ulysse Nardin Tourbillon Regulator Pocket ChronometerTourbillon & karrusel watch · circa 1940 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 256
Ulysse Nardin two-day marine chronometerMarine chronometer (duration not stated) · circa 1947 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 237
Ulysse Nardin Yellow Gold Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · circa 1925 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 544
Ulysses Nardin Hunting Cased Chronograph Minute RepeaterRepeating watch · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 38
Ulysses Nardin Manual Wind Deck Pocket ChronometerPocket chronometer & deck watch · circa 1920 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 163
Ulysses Nardin Manual Wind Pocket WatchOpen-face watch · circa 1880 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 168
Ulysses Nardin San Marco 'Corrida' ChronometerAutomatic wristwatch · circa 2000 · Record source
Antiquorum: lot 30
Collectors, owners and donors
- S.S. RedondoVessel provenance · Ulysse Nardin two-day ship's chronometer, no. 846
Auction history
| House | Sale & lot | Object |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquorum | lot 283 | Ulysse Nardin 'Astrolabium Galileo Galilei' Ref. 911-22 |
| Phillips | lot 133 | Ulysse Nardin Astrolabium Galileo Galilei ref. 910-22 |
| Antiquorum | lot 29 | Ulysse Nardin Chronometer Split-Seconds Chronograph |
| Antiquorum | lot 130 | Ulysse Nardin Chronometre Chronograph Wristwatch |
| Antiquorum | lot 258 | Ulysse Nardin Deck Chronometer |
| Antiquorum | lot 505 | Ulysse Nardin Electric Marine Chronometer |
| Antiquorum | lot 69 | Ulysse Nardin Freak Reference 016-88 |
| Christie's | lot 65 | Ulysse Nardin Hunter Case Minute Repeating Pocket Watch |
| Antiquorum | lot 242 | Ulysse Nardin Keyless Chronograph |
| SebastianCharles Auctions | lot 133 | Ulysse Nardin Le Locle Marine Chronometer Wristwatch |
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Each line is copied from the object's source record and is not independently verified. Holders are as recorded when the piece was catalogued: museum objects may not be on display, and sold lots have since changed hands.
Photographs
Photographs are illustrative examples of the type, not necessarily the exact object described. Verify details against the source file page.
Sources & references
- Ulysse Nardin, Wikipedia (English), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Ulysse Nardin, Wikipedia (German), retrieved 2026-10-27 (text CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Museum chronometry collection catalogues
- Auction catalogue literature
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.