Ulysse Nardin Cal.FHF 26 – 12”’ 1950

Ulysse Nardin

Ulysse Nardin SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaking company founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland. The company became known for manufacturing highly accurate marine chronometers and complicated timepieces used by over 50 of the world’s navies from the end of the 19th century till 1950. According to the last official report of Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin had won numerous awards and honors for its marine chronometers from 1846 to 1975, including 4324 certificates, 2411 special prizes and 18 gold medals at International exhibitions.

The company was taken over and re-invigorated in 1983 by Rolf W. Schnyder who transformed it into a profitable business. Since 2014, it has been a subsidiary of the French luxury group Kering. Ulysse Nardin has operated out of the same building headquartered in Le Locle, Switzerland since 1865. The company today designs and manufactures luxury watches, dual-time watches, and marine chronometers, and sells its products through a network of distributors and several boutiques around the world.

Description

Here we have a wonderful, previously restored Ulysse Nardin wristwatch in outstanding condition. This watch carries the high grade calibre FHF 26 – 12”’ 17 Jewel hand-wound movement which having just received a full overhaul and service from our vintage specialist watchmaker, is also in sparkling condition. This watch is now perfectly suitable for everyday use should you so wish and will make a wonderful addition to any collection.

The Dial

This remarkable watch carries a beautiful, previously restored black dial with incredible steel features. The steel ‘arrowhead’ hour indices are mixed with steel ‘2 – 4 – 6 – 8 – 10 – 12’, which are swept by very clean steel ‘leaf’ hands. All of which, look simply stunning against the black dial and the stainless steel case. This dial also carries a very subtle, yet perfectly placed subsidiary seconds dial at 6.

The dial is simply signed ‘Ulysse Nardin’ and ‘Locle Suisse’ just below 12.

This dial has been previously restored to a very high standard and as can be seen, remains in outstanding condition.

The Movement

The movement within this watch is the Ulysse Nardin Calibre FHF 26-12”’, 17 Jewel movement which is in sparkling condition and has been fully overhauled and serviced by our vintage specialist watchmaker. This means the movement has been completely disassembled, cleaned, inspected and rebuilt using only the correct original parts where required before careful calibration and testing. Upon returning to stock, the watch is now running to within +8 seconds per day which is truly outstanding for any vintage watch of this age!

With care and with regular servicing, say every 4 years, we would fully expect this watch to run quite happily for many decades to come. We are therefore more than happy to offer this watch with our 12 months’ warranty* and to assist with servicing again in the future.

The movement is correctly signed ‘Ulysse Nardin’, ‘Swiss’ along with the movement serial number 6000108.

*Please note – our 12 months’ warranty is only applicable if the list price is paid.

The Case

The incredible stainless steel case measures a good size at 35mm, excluding the correct unsigned crown. This watch carries a very thin, plain bezel which gives the dial a larger feel when worn on the wrist. This case really is in tip-top condition from every aspect.

The case has been carefully inspected for fatigue marks and there are none. It has received a light clean and gentle hand-polish, simply to remove any tarnish and to bring back to the almost new condition you see here. Even under close examination, there are no scratches, dings or signs of wear, visible to the naked eye which leads us to suspect that this watch has seen little, if any, use. The case-back is of full thickness having never been inscribed.

The inside of the case back is correctly signed ‘Ulysse Nardin’, ‘Swiss’, ‘Adierinox’ along with the case serial number 643442.

As ever, our standard advice applies: Vintage watches should be kept clean and dry at all times.

The Strap and Buckle

The watch is fitted with a high quality blue alligator embossed strap and a Ulysse Nardin signed, stainless steel buckle, which we feel suits the watch perfectly. If, however, a different colour or style of strap is preferred, please let us know and we will do our best to oblige, free of charge. We carry tan, conker, dark brown burgundy and black straps in stock, in plain, padded leather, alligator, crocodile or lizard skin.

Box and Papers

Although there are no original papers with this watch, the reference numbers, markings, signatures and hallmarks are all correct, dating this watch to 1950.

Detailed particulars will be included with our receipt for your interest and security. A separate insurance valuation for the replacement value of this watch will also be provided at the time of sale along with our unique ‘Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee’ which states: “If this watch proves to be anything less than 100% genuine, authentic and original, a full refund will be given at any time”.

This watch comes complete with a high quality hardwood presentation.

Payment and Delivery

Payment and Delivery

If you would like to pay by bank transfer, we will be pleased to assist you with this and pass on a 3% saving to you. Paying by bank transfer for a 3% saving will not affect your 12 months warranty. Similarly, if you wish to pay by International SWIFT or Bank Wire Transfer we will provide you with our BIC / Swift number and our IBAN number.

Please check the import duties and any taxes your government may apply, these are different for each country and, unfortunately, out of our control.

We understand there may be some ‘loopholes’ that may help you avoid these charges; however, attempting to use these could impact our ongoing ability to serve our growing international customer base.

For those who happen to visit London on occasion, we are, of course, more than happy to store your watch until we can meet you in our offices in Kensington, London, and hand your watch directly to you there.

As with all our watches, this watch will be sold under our 14 days no-quibble sale or return policy.

In Conclusion

This is a first class example of a top quality Ulysse Nardin wristwatch in stainless steel with the superb calibre FHF 26-12”’ hand-wound movement. The movement is of a high grade and on a par with watches far more expensive than this. Ulysse Nardin watches are highly collectable and the rarity of this watch means the value will always remain strong.

A word on our prices – We always try our hardest to acquire the very highest quality watches we can find, before restoring them to the highest possible standards. We then offer these at the fairest prices we can, taking into account our pre and post-sales care and service. This approach means we will never be the cheapest, but nor will we be the most expensive. Indeed there are some well-known stores in West London which are highly successful charging between two to three times the price you see here. We, therefore, consider our prices to be fair, given the quality of watches we have to offer.

Please note, we also welcome part exchanges. If you have a watch or a small collection for sale, please contact us as we will be happy to discuss this.

We will also be happy to Service your watch, Repair your watch or Restore your watch, all at ‘sensible’ prices. Please see here.

If you have any questions please call us on 020 7727 7095 or if calling from overseas on +44 207 727 7095.

Please take a look at our other fine vintage steel watches.

Thank you.