Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur erotic watch was unveiled at SIHH 2018.
Ok first and foremost, yes, we did go “hands on” with the Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur Erotic watch — a timepiece that not only gives all-new meaning to the concept of voyeurism, but also displays a sexual gesture that has not yet been shown in erotic watches, to the best of our knowledge. Erotic watches …. often considered a taboo subject — were a definite part of certain 18th and 19th century cultures, most often with automatons behind a closed hinged-cover of a pocket watch, or revealed only on the case back and performing sexual acts “on demand.” Now, however, some brands have discovered ways to hide the copulating figures via clever windows and apertures on the dial. Others put the automatons out on the dial for all to see. Such is the case with Ulysse Nardin’s recently released Classic Voyeur erotic watch. Part of the brand’s long-standing erotic watch portfolio (and believe me in my three-plus decades in this industry, I have seen some pretty elaborate erotic watches from Ulysse Nardin), this year’s new watch may well be the brand’s most daring jaquemart minute repeater to date.
SIHH 2018: The Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur Erotic watch is offered in rose gold, or in platinum and there is a version finished with a diamond-set baguette bezel.
The Ulysse Nardin Erotic Classic Voyeur watch also yielded tremendous marketing magic for Ulysse Nardin at SIHH, where the brand focused on the concept: “#FreakMeOu.t” Not only did Ulysse Nardin host lavish Hot Horlogerie parties a couple of nights in a row during SIHH that featured pole dancers, smokey haze, and other exciting concepts, but also Ulysse Nardin showcased the new watch at SIHH in a dedicated red room — complete with whips, chains and other props hanging on the red walls, and a chaise lounge in one corner recalling one of the rooms in the famed 1878 Le Chabanais brothel of Paris. Dark velvet curtains also lined the walls, so that the props could be hidden if need be, much like the secret rooms in many of the 19th century pleasure houses. In the end, though, the hype around the Classic Voyeur was just hype — designed to get people talking about the brand. The real eroticism, actually lies in the incredibly complex Classic Voyeur jaquemart minute repeater watch.
The Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur erotic watch could represent the first time this particular hand gesture was depicted on a watch dial.
Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur Erotic Watch
To begin with the anthracite dial is a masterpiece of artistic prowess, complete with sculpted gold figures and engraved detailing that depicts, in monochromatic gray tones, a lavish Louis XIV room with chaise lounge, tile floor, scroll-work-motif carpet, and damask or velvet curtain. There are four “nude” gold figures on the dial: a couple in the background and a couple in the foreground. The couple in the background features a woman perched on the arm of the settee — her legs wrapped around the man.
The couple in the foreground, also naked, are the voyeurs: the man has pulled the curtain aside to watch the couple in the background in their moments of heated passion, and the woman behind him seems less concerned with voyeurism and more concerned with pleasuring her partner. This is where the watch strays from most typical erotic watches that generally display men and women in different Kama Sutra-like sexual positions. This watch may well be the first to not only display the single-hand action of the woman in the forefront, but also to do it using both the quarter hours and the minutes to fully exemplify the act.
As with all Ulysse Nardin erotic watches, the automaton figures on the dial of the 42mm Classic Voyeur Erotic watch are sculpted in 18-karat rose gold (or in 18-karat white gold for the platinum watch) and are brought to life on demand by a push of the minute repeater lever, which chimes using two tones. With the push of the minute repeater slide, as the hours are chimed, the couple in the background begins to copulate, thanks the man moving his hips. As the minutes chime, the woman in the foreground works her magic on the man in front of her, moving more quickly as the seconds chime the time.
Just 18 pieces of the provocative Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur will be made in 18-karat rose gold (approximately $295,000), and 18 pieces in platinum (approximately $325,000). There is also a platinum edition set with 60 shimmering baguette diamonds on the bezel weighing 3.5 carats — perfect for a dazzling depiction of the erotic frenzy. The Ulysse Nardin minute repeater, jaquemart watch is powered by the manual wind Caliber UN-73, and features s sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment because who, after all, would want glare to interfere with the show. For a video of this watch, please visit our instagram account.
Erotic Watches In History
As mentioned earlier, erotic timepieces are an important part of watchmaking history. One look at certain auction lots in history shows watches such as the Henry Capt Musique d’Amour watch (with four erotic scenes on it), selling for well over $210,000 by Antiquorum 15 years ago. Another erotic watch with three concealed erotic scenes on it , circa 1880, also sold by Antiquorum for around a quarter-of-a-million dollars. While the roots of erotic watch history can be traced back to the 1600’s when hand-painted enamel watches for the Chinese market depicted sexual scenes, it was not until the 18th century that automatons were incorporated into erotic watches. Today, just a handful of the finest luxury watch brands venture into the carnal world — and when they do, they seem to capture all acts of love in full glory. For a complete look at recent erotic watches, visit my Perfect Timing column on Forbes.com.
Yes, we did go “hands on” at SIHH 2018 with the Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur Erotic watch.
Technical Specs of the Ulysse Nardin Classic Voyeur Erotic Watch
References 736-61/VOYEUR
739-61/VOYEUR
739-61BAG/VOYEUR, baguette diamonds bezel
Limited Edition 18 pieces in rose gold
18 pieces in platinium
Movement Calibre UN-73
Power reserve Around 36 hours
Winding Manual
Functions Hours and minutes
Minute repeater
Chimes the hours, quarter hours and minutes
Low-pitched for hours / high-pitched for minutes
Animated Jaquemart automatons, on-demand pushbutton activated
Diamonds Bezel: 80 Baguette diamonds, total: 3,5 ct – Ref. 739-61BAG/VOYEUR
Case 18 carat rose gold or platinum
Diameter 42 mm
Water Resistance 30 m
Dial Anthracite grey engraved dial
Crystal Crystal sapphire with anti-reflection treatment
Caseback Screwed-on crystal sapphire
Strap Leather with folding buckle
Price 736-61/VOYEUR CHF 295,000 .-
739-61/VOYEUR CHF 325,000.-
