Ulysse Nardin SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaking company founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland.

[1][2] The company became known for manufacturing highly accurate marine chronometers and complicated precision exclusive timepieces[4][5][6][7] 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.

[15] Despite Ulysse Nardin growing up in the Jura mountains, he was fascinated by the sea and produced nautical timekeeping instruments.

His company became one of the first to manufacture marine chronometers[1][2][17] and high-precision seafaring instruments[18][19] for commercial ships and navies throughout the world.

[15] Ulysse Nardin acquired a high-precision astronomical regulator, built by Jacques-Frederic Houriet in 1768, to rate his pocket chronometers.

At the 1862 International Exhibition in London, Ulysse Nardin was awarded the Prize Medal in the category of "complicated watches and pocket chronometers".

[23] The brand regularly won Washington Naval Observatory competitions and became the official supplier for the US Navy's torpedo boats.

[8] In 1983, the company was acquired by businessman Rolf Schnyder who, in conjunction with watchmakers such as Ludwig Oechslin, revived the brand.

[35][36] While marine wrist chronometers are still a specialty for the brand, it produces luxury complicated timepieces with high sophistication[26][19] for men and women.

[37] The company sells its products through a network of distributors and several boutiques around the globe, as well as through retailers in Europe, America, Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia, China and Russia.

[35][38][39] Ulysse Nardin is part of the exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie.

[42] Profile turners or specialist setters supervise the production of pieces required for the balance axis, screws, pins and the other minute parts.

[42] Some watches have a chronometer movement certified for accuracy by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, the official Swiss testing agency.

[51] One year later, the company launched the "Freak Vision" with three patents out of "Innovision 2" : "Grinder" winding system, constant power escapement and balance wheel in silicium with micro palets.

[54] The Astrolabium displays local and solar time, the orbits and eclipses of the sun and the moon and the positions of several major stars.

[54] Every two years, the brand participates in Only Watch, a charity auction operated under the patronage of Prince Albert II, where watchmaking companies create timepieces to raise funds for research on neuromuscular diseases.

[63] On the hour, the watch plays Queen’s “We are the Champions” thanks to the copyright granted to Ulysse Nardin for its participation to the charity cause association.