Up Close With the New Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel

Since the debut of the original version in 2001, the Ulysse Nardin Freak has grown into a four-tiered family of watches (five if you include the Ur-Freak, an Urwerk collab) known for using exposed, rotating parts of the movement as its hands. The Freak S is the second-highest tier, with twin rotating inclined balance wheels and list prices starting at $174,400. In 2025, Ulysse Nardin released two versions of the Freak S with beautiful colored enamel guilloché dials: one turquoise, and one red. And for 2026, we take a look at the brand new Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel.

First Impressions of the Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel

This is not a subtle watch; the 45mm diameter and 16.65mm height of the Freak S make it a very substantial piece. But it’s surprisingly lightweight due to its titanium case and folding clasp. The movement is stunning, which is nothing new, and the purple color on the Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel is a very deep, subdued shade.

The hand-turned guilloché central part of the dial is so dark it’s almost black, while the chapter ring adds a bit of violet shimmer.

Spec-wise, the Freak S Purple Enamel is basically the same as the red and turquoise versions that were among the 2025 Ulysse Nardin releases. Here’s a full breakdown:

Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel Specs

Specification	Details
Model name	Ulysse Nardin Freak S Purple Enamel
Reference number	2513-500LE
Case material	Titanium, including the bezel, locking mechanism, and caseback
Case diameter	45mm
Case thickness	16.65mm
Case lug-to-lug	53.5mm
Crystal	Domed sapphire box crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating
Dial / hour disc	Deep purple enamel over a hand-turned guilloché rotating hour disc, produced in-house by Donzé Cadrans
Movement caliber	Manufacture caliber UN-251 (Automatic winding via Grinder system, DIAMonSIL escapement, 373 parts, 33 jewels, 5 beats per second per oscillator)
Movement functions	Hours and minutes; flying carousel movement rotating around its own axis, with two inclined oscillators connected by a vertical differential
Power reserve	72 hours
Water resistance	30m
Bracelet / strap	Black leather strap with purple stitching and titanium deployant clasp
Limited edition	50 pieces
MSRP / U.S. retail price	$174,400

Movement

UN-251, which first appeared in 2022, powers the Ulysse Nardin Freak S lineup.

The spaceship-looking thing in the middle turns around the dial once per hour, and thus acts as the minute hand. The little slider around the edge of the dial, which actually slides under the hour markers, acts as the hour hand. There is no seconds hand. Power reserve is an ample 72 hours.

Watching the two oscillators, each inclined at 20 degrees, is a joy. A differential averages their rates to help reduce positional errors.

All the complexity of this 373-part movement is designed to (theoretically) keep time more precisely, although it’s not actually chronometer-certified. The UN-251 is rated to keep time within 0 to +10 seconds per day, which is good enough, although that’s nothing a good four-figure watch couldn’t do. But you don’t buy a Freak S just for its timekeeping; you buy it because it’s a mesmerizing mechanical spectacle. And the purple enamel dial works well with it.