Ulysse Nardin and their partner, Scientific Cellular Innovations (SCI) first announced their collaboration on the Android smartphone two years ago to much fanfare. While there have been plenty of jewelry, fashion and a few watch brand collaborations for cell phones, none have actually incorporated elements of horology until the Chairman, by Ulysse Nardin. Only this year at Baselworld 2011 was an working phone shown to the public, along with the announcement of a new line, called “Wave”. Orders have just started shipping as of October. Being the only true example of a hybrid between haute horology and a smart phone, I’d love to share it with you:
The Chairman – Android Smart Phone by Ulysse Nardin
Made from over 300 handmade parts, all sourced from Europe, the range of models incorporates hand-finished anodized aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, marine-grade stainless steel and rhodium-plated parts, carbon fiber, 18k rose gold casing, 22k gold rotors and sapphire crystals. The rotor found on the back is Ulysse Nardin’s signature and is not just an ornament. Winding up the crown will actually use the rotor to charge the battery. Of course we can’t expect it to take the place of the AC adapter, but it is an great touch by the master watchmakers at Ulysse Nardin. It is also offered in a range of colors themes.
The Diamond Edition
The diamond edition is limited to only a hundred made, and has over 3,000 round and brilliant cut diamonds mounted on a 18k white gold case.The
The Wave Edtion
The Wave edition features new details inspired from Ulysse Nardin’s nautical history. using a wave design throughout the bezel’s crystal and ceramic inlays between the keys and back cover. The phone itself will feature new crown and rotor design, all on a polished case of either rose gold or stainless steel, with an ceramic backing.
Tech Specs
Costing upwards of $50,000, this is the most expensive Android phone to date. There have been plenty of luxury and bespoke cell phones made, such as the long-running and successful luxury cell phone line Vertu, by Nokia. A great feature of this smartphone is the popular Android operating system, which will give this phone a much longer life with through OS upgrades and new apps. The current model is 3G, with a 4G version planned. IT has a 3.2″ touch-screen made with watch-grade sapphire crystal with biometric fingerprint recognition. It has physical numeric keys, 32GB of on-board memory and a 8 megapixel camera.
Luxury Service
As with any luxury item, luxury service is expected. For a $5,000 a year membership, you can send your phone back to Ulysse Nardin two times a year, to clean, polish and also upgrade the software of the Chairman. During that time a loner will be sent for you to use. This will also include a replacement insurance plan in case you’re unfortunate enough to loose or break it.
Luxury Speaker and Charging Dock
And not leaving an important detail out, Ulysse Nardin has also handcrafted a luxury speaker and charging dock just for the Chairman. Built with over 260 parts mechanical parts in a lacquered box, it comes in either a natural wood of piano black finish. It has a microphone and speakers, controlled via Bluetooth to listen to music or talk hands-free. And not only does it charge the smartphone, it also backs up its 32GB of memory automatically. It also includes storage space for additional accessories and a travel adapter to allow you to charge anywhere in the world.
If you enjoyed this post, you’ll like De Bethune’s Luxury iPhone Case, A Tribute to Steve Jobs.
This is the best phone ever! I totally Love it