Ulysse Nardin

Ulysse Nardin founded his company in 1846 at age 23 in Le Locle, Switzerland, after training under his father Léonard-Frédéric Nardin and master watchmakers Frédéric-William Dubois and Louis JeanRichard-dit-Bressel. The company became one of the first to manufacture marine chronometers, supplying over 50 navies worldwide. At the 1862 International Exhibition in London, Ulysse Nardin won the Prize Medal for complicated watches and pocket chronometers. Ulysse Nardin died in 1876 and was succeeded by his son Paul-David Nardin. The company won a Gold Medal at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition and began supplying marine chronometers to the United States Navy in 1902. According to the Neuchâtel Observatory's final report covering 1846-1975, Ulysse Nardin received 4,324 certificates, 2,411 special prizes, and 18 gold medals. In 1983, businessman Rolf Schnyder acquired the company and partnered with watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin. The 1985 Astrolabium Galileo Galilei began the Trilogy of Time. In 2001, the Freak watch introduced the first silicon escapement in commercial watchmaking. The company acquired enamel dial maker Donzé Cadrans in 2011 and launched its first in-house automatic caliber UN-118 in 2012. Kering acquired the company in 2014. Following a management buyout, Ulysse Nardin is now owned by Sowind Group SA. The company still occupies its original headquarters in Le Locle since 1865.