With so many watchmakers looking to the past for inspiration, Ulysse Nardin has one option that won’t ever be mistaken for vintage. Debuting in 2001, before futuristic-looking timepieces were cachet, the aptly titled Freak was — and still is — instantly noticeable for its avant-garde design, with no dial or crown, a movement that doubled as a minute hand, and an hour hand (also part of the movement) that ticked away below the minute bridge. Today, the Swiss watchmaker debuts its latest iteration on the Freak, dubbed the Freak X OPS.
Known as “the daily Freak,” the standard Freak X was introduced in 2019, introducing a crown to the configuration and adjusting the design ever so slightly in order to add better wearability to the timepiece. Bringing a more tactical, stealthy aesthetic to the watch, the OPS edition features flanks made of a proprietary carbon fiber and epoxy resin composite from Ulysse Nardin, which is colored OD green and textured to look like Damascus steel. At 43mm across, the rest of the case is made from black DLC-coated titanium. While other military-inspired watches simply change the color of the case or dial, the Freak X OPS evolves its entire look.
Underneath the sapphire crystal, you can view the in-house UN-230 automatic movement, which boasts 206 components and 72 hours of power reserve. The elements of the movement that serve as the watch’s hands are lumed and colored in the same green as the flanks. Meanwhile, the timepiece itself has 50m of water resistance, which isn’t as high as other stealth watches but enough to afford you a decent enough diving session.
Chances are, if you’re purchasing this watch, you won’t be taking it too far off the grid. The Freak X OPS is priced at $33,800 and can be purchased from Ulysse Nardin’s website.
