Up Close with the Ulysse Nardin Freak Diavolo Rolf 75

The late Rolf Schnyder turned 75 last year and to commemorate the occasion Ulysse-Nardin unveiled the Freak Diavolo Rolf 75. No other watch embodies UN, and by extension Rolf Schnyder, as much as the Freak. In a poignant tribute to the Freak’s importance one of these watches remained on Rolf Schnyder’s during his cremation.

So christened for its unorthodox movement, the Freak has an enormous mainspring sitting under the gear train and bridges which are themselves the minute hand. And of course the Freak was a pioneer in the use of silicon in watchmaking. Unlike the original Freak the Diavolo is also a flying tourbillon that rotates once a minute.

75 pieces in platinum of this Diavolo will be made, and each has Rolf Schnyder’s signature on the lever that locks the bezel. Like the regular version of the Diavolo this has a rubber ring on the bezel, which I dislike. A plain metal bezel would have been preferable in my opinion.  Enjoy the rest of the photos below. 

– SJX

Back to top.

You may also enjoy these.