ReviewFeel The Bejewelled Side Of Time With The Ulysse Nardin Classico Jade Timepieces

Although they are known for their Marine chronometers and Diver collection of watches, Ulysse Nardin is a brand that isn’t just about timepieces inspired by the ocean. Of course, there’s the Freak, a baffling series of watches that play with the movement being in the timekeeping hands, and there are the stunning minute repeaters from their Classic collection. However, aside from these gems of haute horlogerie, the respected Swiss watch manufacturers also have perfectly good everyday contemporary as well as classical watches from their Executive and Classic collections. The latest among these are the newest Classico Jade timepieces for women.

The New Jade

First introduced in 2013, the Jade series was a tribute to the eponymous gemstone. It was a collection of watches in an oval shape, mostly paved with diamonds on the bezel and often seen in gold. More of dress watch then, the series has evolved this year to become more wearable even during the day. Presented in a new, 37mm round case in steel, the diamonds on the bezel have gone in some variations. The clear steel bezel options of this watch are available with white or blue leather straps, with numerals in grey and blue respectively, while the paved bezel options include a deep red strap version, aside from the blue and white. All variations come fitted with the in-house, self-winding mechanical calibre UN-815, which offers a significant power reserve of 42 hours.

A Swirl Around Time With The Jade

In terms of design, the most integral part of original Classico Jade is very much retained in this new edition, in the form of a metallic swirl, covering largely the lower-left quadrant of the mother-of-pearl dial. With 10 diamonds on them, the elegant swirls also seemingly demarcate the hour markers from six to eight o’clock from the other nine Arabic numerals on the dial. Six, seven and eight are even differentiated in colour in the blue and red versions, while in all models, there are lines that emphasise the swirl pattern. Interestingly, it’s the hour markers from nine to five that have been kept separate. This is possibly a reference to the timepiece being ideal as a nine-to-five watch that can also go from day to evening, as you switch your focus to the bejewelled side of time.