Ulysse Nardin UN-250 Mode D'emploi page 9

Ulysse Nardin is a pioneer of innovations in timekeeping, not least for its
unprecedented mastery of silicium, which it introduced to Haute Hor-
logerie in the first Freak timepiece, in 2001. Now it audaciously pushes
the technology further by welding it—another patented first—with solid
nickel elements, to create an astonishingly light balance wheel. It then
adds silicium micro-blades to stabilize amplitudes and significantly in-
crease accuracy.
The Grinder Automatic Winding System, which completely revolution-
izes energy transmission, surpassing existing systems for efficiency by
a factor of two. Grinder takes perfect advantage of even the slightest
movement of the wrist. The oscillating rotor is linked to a frame contain-
ing four arms, which gives the automatic system twice the torque – like
having four pedals on a bike instead of two – while a flexible guidance
mechanism drastically limits friction.
The Ulysse Nardin Anchor Escapement is based on the principle of
flexible mechanisms, exploiting the elasticity of flat springs. It presents
a constant force escapement made entirely of silicium, and features a
circular frame with a pallet fork that moves without friction. The pallet
fork is fixed in the center and supported in space on two minuscule
blade springs. Mounted perpendicular to each other, they are subjected
to a bending force that curves and keeps them in a bistable state. The
result is a positive energy balance that maintains the oscillations of the
balance wheel at a constant rate without influence of torque variation
from the mainspring.
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