133
Ulysse Nardin
Ref. 910-22
Astrolabium Galileo Galilei
A very fine and extremely unusual white and yellow gold automatic astronomical wristwatch with bracelet
Estimate
CHF20,000 - 30,000
€17,100 - 25,700
$21,200 - 31,800
Sold For
CHF26,250
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Ulysse Nardin
Year
Circa 1990
Reference No
910-22
Movement No
91.4.002
Case No
002
Model Name
Astrolabium Galileo Galilei
Material
18K white gold, yellow gold crown
Calibre
Automatic, cal. UN-97, 33 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
18K white gold Ulysse Nardin integrated bracelet, max length 200mm
Clasp/Buckle
18K white gold clasp
Dimensions
40mm Diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Specialist
Full-Cataloguing
Catalogue Essay
The Astrolabium Galileo Galilei is one of the three models which make up the “Trilogy of Time” series by Ulysse Nardin. A remarkable watchmaking project, the Trilogy had as a goal to develop extremely intricate astronomical pieces targeted to a highly educated audience. It was conceived in the early 1980s when Rolf Schnyder - who had bought Ulysse Nardin - was struck with fascination at an early astronomical clock. A meeting with watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin followed, and Oechslin was tasked with shrinking the astronomical clock to wrist size. The result was the first Trilogy of Time wristwatch: the Astrolabium. In fact, this was one of the first line of watches to reinterpret the wristwatch more as a living sculpture and object of design, rather than a tool to tell time. The Astrolabium was launched in 1985, featuring a plethora of astronomical indications such as sunrise/set moonrise/set, moon phases, eclipses (both solar and lunar), the star chart, indeed all information usually found in an astrolabe.
The second watch of the series was the Planetarium Copernicus - launched in 1988 - featuring an heliocentric view of the solar system up to and including Saturn; finally, the Tellurium Johannes Kepler focuses on earth and the position relative to it of sun and moon.
The second watch of the series was the Planetarium Copernicus - launched in 1988 - featuring an heliocentric view of the solar system up to and including Saturn; finally, the Tellurium Johannes Kepler focuses on earth and the position relative to it of sun and moon.
Ulysse Nardin
Swiss | 1846Founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin is a widely acclaimed Swiss watch manufacturer that earned recognition for its precision chronometers during the early to mid-twentieth century. Ulysse Nardin himself was a trained watchmaker under the guidance of his father, Leonard-Frederic Nardin, as well as master watchmakers Frederic William Dubois and Louis Jean Richard-dit-Bressel. Collectors in particular seek this brand's oversized vintage chronograph wristwatches, including the reference 7536-2.