When Rolf W. Schnyder led the group that acquired Ulysse Nardin in 1983, one of the first decision he took was to hire genius watchmaker Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. A true visionary, he is the spiritual father of virtually all subsequent Ulysse Nardin creations, to which he imparted his eclectic view of watchmaking. The playfully-named Freak is indeed one of such creations, possibly today the most iconic and a true symbol of the brand. Originally launched in 2001, at the time it was the first wristwatch to incorporate silicon components, a peculiarity which - in the conservative Swiss watchmaking circles - created nearly as much controversy as its unusual design.

The model however turned out to be a success, and soon an upgrade was devised: the Freak 28’800 V/h. Launched in 2005, the new model incorporates a balance wheel vibrating indeed at 28’800 V/h, providing an accuracy comparable to that of mechanical chronometers. Furthermore, the dual escapement already employed in the previous iteration was upgraded to a new version named “Dual Ulysse Escapement”. It has the peculiarity of having two escapement wheels, with the result of natural force transmission: the impulse is always provided in the same direction as the motion of the wheel; this is made possible by constantly alternating the active escapement wheel.

Beyond the technical refinement, the Freak 28’800 V/h maintained the electing and eye-catching style of the previous model: no hands are present, instead the entire movement rotates and gives time indication. As the balance wheel rotates with the movement, the system is effectively a 1 hour tourbillon. Further expanding on its design uniqueness, the Freak does not feature a crown: it would not be feasible to fit a fix crown into a constantly revolving movement. Thus, the back and bezel act as crown: the watch is wound by revolving the case back, and the time is set by revolving the bezel. Interestingly, due to the nature of the movement, adjusting time also winds and unwinds the mainspring, although at a much smaller rate than the back. One counterclockwise bezel revolution will add one hour to the power reserve, one clockwise revolution will subtract one hour.