The Ulysse Nardin Genghis Khan is extremely special because it was the world’s first wristwatch featuring a Westminster chime with minute repeater, automatons, and tourbillon.
If this doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, you might want to brush up on the basics:
Ulysse Nardin Genghis Khan Tourbillon Minute Repeater in White Gold with Black Onyx
An especially interesting timepiece, the Ulysse Nardin Genghis Khan Tourbillon Minute Repeater has a tourbillion which can be seen through a window on the watch’s face, and a minute repeater. The Genghis Khan will be produced over the next 6-8 years in a limited edition of 30 pieces, each in 18K white and rose gold.
This piece boasts a one minute tourbillon which is ione-minute into the black onyx watch dial, and the Westminster has four gongs, each with a different tone (Mi-Do-Re-Sol).
When the repeater is active, the hour sound is Sol and the minute sound is Mi. All four gongs sound in three different sequences for the quarters of an hour. This piece also has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a water resistance to 100 feet/30 meters.
It becomes immediately apparent that these are not the time piece’s only distinctive features when one sees the piece’s outward beauty. Depicted on the Genghis Khan’s black onyx dial are gorgeous hand-carved 18K rose gold figures. What is even more unique, and becomes apparent later is that the hand-carved jacquemarts (automations of art depicting figures carved in metal) move in sync with the sound of gongs when the Westminster chimes or the repeater is engaged.
Ulysse Nardin Genghis Khan Dial Design
The Genghis Khan features four figures, which are Mongolian warriors. When the figures move, two of them “fight” with their characteristically curved swords, another figure attempts to catch a small ring with a spear while riding an impressively crafted horse and the last figure appears to be playing a musical instrument.
The watch depicts Mongolians because it was named after Genghis Khan, the founder of the largest empire in mankind’s history; the Mongol Empire. The Mongol Empire existed during the 13th and 14th centuries. It began in central Asia, and eventually spanned from Eastern Europe to the Sea of Japan, covering large parts of Siberia, and extending into Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East. It covered roughly an impressive 16% of the Earth’s total land area.
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