Ulysse Nardin sails into 2014 with the latest addition to its Classico Cloisonné collection: the Amerigo Vespucci. Known for acknowledging magnificent ships of exploration, battle and beauty, Ulysse Nardin celebrates one of Italy’s most esteemed full-rigged frigates in this latest timepiece.
Named after the famous explorer, Amerigo Vespucci, the ship was built in 1930 and launched in 1931. She has voyaged around the globe and is looked upon with pride by those of her mother country, serving today as a training vessel for the Italian Navy. Whether it’s her unmistakable presence or graceful vigor, the Amerigo Vespucci is a force to be admired.
In glorious detail, the Amerigo Vespucci is portrayed. Only achievable through the process of enameling – a lost art harnessed by Ulysse Nardin – this miniature replica appears as authentic as its real-life counterpart. Its luminous colors and three-dimensional effect on the dial add to its essence of realism.
Ulysse Nardin thrives in enameling, a centuries-old meticulous discipline prized by watch collectors worldwide. One of very few brands mastering this technique in its own workshops, Ulysse Nardin has an unparalleled in-house capability in haute horology. Foregoing the use of modern technology and relying solely on the expertise of the artisan, enameling is an exacting art unlike any other. Ulysse Nardin’s dedication to it is rendered in the Classico Amerigo Vespucci.
In the practice, opaque, transparent or translucent colors and tones are derived from the proportions in which the elements are mixed in order to get amalgams, the composition of which is often a secret. Remarkably, each segment is divided by a gold wire segment that prevents the liquid powdered enamel to flow into other melting chambers. Over 500mm of fine gold wire is needed to make the cloisons, a practice that requires 50 working hours by the artist and 26 processes to complete each cloisonné dial.
A limited-edition collection of 30 pieces crafted in 18-karat rose and white gold and measuring 40 mm in diameter, the Classico Amerigo Vespucci features a self-winding movement (UN 815 caliber), Chronometer Certificate and water resistance to 50 meters.
From her 26 sails to the bright white stripes that dress her black hull, the Classico Amerigo Vespucci is a spectacular display of design and maritime mastery that has traversed the oceans. The Amerigo Vespucci continues the tradition of the Classico Cloisonné collection and its depictions of famous vessels, bringing a sense of adventure to its wearers, accompanying them on their many life journeys.
