Ulysse Nardin Jungle Minute Repeater watch

The Ulysse Nardin Jungle Minute Repeater watch is an incredible timepiece that unites the disciplines of haute horlogerie and the sensibility of a rare art form to offer a unified expression of rare beauty.  The horological expertise embodied within the minute repeater mechanism is one of the great challenges of classical watchmaking, and places severe demands upon the watchmaker, as its complex structure of toothed racks and cams must translate the position of the hands into a coordinated series of perfectly tuned strike sequences that indicate the hour, quarter hour, and minute, upon meticulously tuned gongs. 

So, too, the ancient art of Cloisonne enameling requires the utmost in dedicated craftsmanship and artistic sensitivity.  Involving the technique of producing a miniature artwork in fine gold thread which is then filled in with powdered or liquid enamels of various colors, and then baked layer upon layer, the Cloisonne technique is exceptionally difficult to execute without destructive errors; Ulysse Nardin Watch has carefully cultivated the skills of an elite cadre of artisans, led by Michel Vermot, who still practice this remarkable technique, which requires literally dozens of hours to produce a single finished dial.  The dial of the Jungle Minute Repeater watch requires devotion even beyond what is normally involved, as its unique design which replicates the depth and rich colors of the jungle requires a vast delineation of colors and shapes, which include flowers, trees, animals, and water. 

The unique three-dimensionality of this dial is remarkable, and when viewed as a whole it depicts a mysterious jungle scene in which a tiger, a fish, and a hornbill all interact together, while a rhinoceros drinks from a sparkling stream which flows by. Perhaps most remarkable is the way in which the Ulysse Nardin Jungle Minute Repeater watch animates the crystalline chimes of the minute repeater; for when the minute repeater slide is pulled, the jungle quite literally comes to life.  For each hour that is struck by the hammers of the repeater, the tiger's paw moves up and down, while the high-low alternating tones of the quarter hours are marked by a physical dialogue between the hornbill, who bobs his head, and the tiger, who continues to move his paw. 

Finally, the individual peals of the minutes are accompanied by the hornbill, who again bobs his head in exact correspondence with the chimes.  There is no small seconds hand---instead, that indication is charmingly represented by a fish, which can be seen gliding down the waterfall, whenever the watch is running.  The masterful manually wound movement of the Ulysse Nardin Jungle Minute Repeater watch can be examined fully through the exhibition sapphire caseback; the fine Lemania-based UN-71 movement glitters with its fine hand embellishments--"Cotes de Geneve" decoration, anglage finishing, and finely polished repeater hammers and steel swan neck spring can all be readily admired, and testify to the immense effort lavished by Ulysse Nardin in the creation of this very special watch.  Only a few of the 18 piece edition of the Ulysse Nardin Jungle Minute Repeater watch remain available, presented in a 38.5mm 18K yellow gold case; the platinum edition has long since sold out, snapped up by passionate collectors who reserved their watches well in advance.

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