
Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Ulysse Nardin Automatic 36000 Chronometer Date, Chocolatone Case, circa 1970s
- Maker / attribution
- Ulysse Nardin (maker)
- Date
- c. 1970s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Stock no.
- vws3459
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Vintage Watch Specialist (vws3459)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Ulysse Nardin Automatic 36000 Chronometer Date - Chocolatone Case - c.1970s (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Vintage Watch Specialist (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number vws3459), this is a wristwatch by Ulysse Nardin, made in Switzerland, dated c. 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Vintage Watch Specialist
A Beautiful Ulysse Nardin Automatic 36000 Chronometer Date with an Attractive Silver Textured Dial and Robust Steel Tank Case, c.1970s Ulysse Nardin, a prestigious Swiss watchmaker, was founded in 1846 by its namesake Ulysse Nardin in Le Locle, Switzerland. Renowned for its innovative marine chronometers, the brand quickly established itself as a leader in nautical precision. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ulysse Nardin's timepieces were recognized by navies worldwide for their accuracy, cementing its reputation in maritime history. The company faced challenges during the quartz crisis of the 1970s but revived under new leadership in 1983. Innovative craftsmanship became the brand's hallmark, leading to groundbreaking collections like the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei in 1985, which earned a spot in the Guinness Book of Records for its intricate functionalities. Today, Ulysse Nardin continues to blend tradition with innovation. Renowned for avant-garde designs and cutting-edge technology, such as the Freak collection's pioneering use of silicium, the brand remains a symbol of nautical heritage and timekeeping excellence What's on Offer This Ulysse Nardin tank is absolutely charming! We are delighted to offer it for sale in such beautiful vintage condition. The dial has a delightful silver texture and boasts applied baton hour markers with subtle onyx inserts and the slim stick hands correspond too. There is a date wheel unusually placed at 6 o'clock and an applied Ulysse Nardin anchor emblem completes the dial which is encapsulated underneath a shatterproof acrylic crystal and encased in a robust stainless steel tank case. The case is in splendid condition with minimal signs of previous wear. The crown is original and is signed Ulysse Nardin - the devil is in the detail! This is a really nice purchase, a fairly robust piece with a nice presence on the wrist - a great addition to any collection.
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Automatic (self-winding) watches
Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.
What to look for
- A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
- 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
- A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.
Dating clues
- Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
- Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
- Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
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