BY JAY AQUINO

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Eroticism in luxury was nothing new. Fashion and luxury brands had long danced with sensuality, pushing boundaries in their designs and teasing the fine line between art and desire. What made each uniquely intriguing was how individual brands chose to interpret this idea. In 2019, Ulysse Nardin, a Swiss luxury watchmaker, took the concept of intimacy to a new level by teaming up with legendary Italian artist and comic book writer Milo Manara to create limited edition watches that were not only intricate but deeply intimate—telling a love story that unfolded on the wrist.

The centerpiece of this collection was a romantic narrative between two characters, Ulyssa, a mermaid, and Nadia, a human woman—two figures who appeared to have madly fallen in love with each other. The artwork was both delicate and evocative, allowing one to get lost in the emotions shared between the characters. But what was most remarkable about these watches was the way the art spoke for itself. The watch hands were discreet, ensuring that Manara’s illustrations were the true stars, uninterrupted by the usual mechanics of time.

To enhance the sensuality of Manara’s erotic scenes, Ulysse Nardin applied lacquer as a topcoat on the acrylic painting, creating a reflective sheen that not only drew the eye but also elevated the entire artwork. The glistening finish highlighted the depth and complexity of Manara’s illustrations, offering a luxurious backdrop to a story that felt both timeless and contemporary. In addition, Manara’s contributions to this collection were exclusive, with only ten unique illustrations created for the series. These were painstakingly reproduced by Ulysse Nardin using a process called micro-painting.

Beyond the artwork, the watches were powered by the Caliber UN-320, a self-winding mechanism that reflected Ulysse Nardin’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The brand’s collection of calibers was one of the most extensive and diverse in the industry, offering both classic and unconventional designs for men and women alike. At its core, Ulysse Nardin was a brand defined by innovation, independence, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in watchmaking.

With only ten illustrations, this collaboration was truly a watch collector's dream. It went beyond being just a tool for telling time; it was wearable art—an intimate portrayal of love, desire, and the boundless beauty of the ocean, all captured within the delicate confines of a timepiece.

Classico Manara Manufacture - 2,828,419.13 PHP

Photo credit: Ulysse Nardin

Photo credit: Ulysse Nardin

Discover the Ulysse Nardin and Milo Manara's collaboration here.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Prices in this article is not the actual price of the product. This is only to give our audience some guide. The prices were extracted from a website and it was converted to peso on October 17 2024 using the exchange rate at that time.