If you’ve read the recently posted “A Moment in Time with Randy Johnson,” you already know this baseball legend was at the opening of the first Ulysse Nardin Boutique in the USA. We told you about Randy, but not about the true star of the show that night: Ulysse Nardin. With Rolf Schnyder, owner and president of Ulysse Nardin present, along with Patrik Hoffmann, vice president of sales and markeing worldwide, the more than 160-year-old brand celebrated the grand opening of the boutique in the Town Center mall in Boca Raton.
Amidst an atmosphere complete with Dom Perignon, caviar, Silver Dagger vodka, mimes wearing Ulysse Nardin watches and a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony, the brand not only opened it s doors for the first time, but also auctioned off a special Boutique Limited Edition Maxi Diver UN timepiece made in honor of the boutique opening and with the entire proceeds going to benefit the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation. The watch retails for $12,900 and sold for $35,000. The opening of the 700-square-foot US Boutique marks 14 worldwide Ulysse Nardin stores. The first ever was opened in Malaysia (Schnyder’s home country) and the most recent prior to this was a few weeks ago in Russia.
The Boutique is well manicured and features the Ulysse Nardin décor – dark burl wood, port-hole style 
windows inside the store and a stunning signature blue-and-gold compass-inspired ceiling light. For the opening, the store is chocked with some of the most superb Ulysse Nardin timepieces ever made, including the Moonstruck astronomical watch, a host of Freak examples ranging from the Blue to the Diavolo, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011. The newest Freak Diavolo limited edition in 75 pieces platinum, to celebrate Schnyder’s birthday (related coverage coming soon), was unfortunately not available, as most are sold and it can be had only by special order. However, a gold version ($140,000) is available and can be seen at the boutique. Also in the boutique are some of the newest Ladies’ Caprice models, and a watchmaker’s station for servicing.
