Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has officially opened its U.S. flagship boutique at The Villa Menlo Park, marking its only standalone store in North America. The boutique, launched in partnership with Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry, establishes a significant West Coast presence for the Swiss brand, known for its pioneering Wilson-infused technology.
The boutique joins other high-end retailers in Menlo Park, including independent Swiss watchmakers MB&F and H. Moser & Cie, German safe maker Buben & Zörweg, and Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry.
Patrick Pruniaux, Chairman and CEO of Ulysse Nardin, stated, “Ulysse Nardin has been advancing watchmaking since 1846, and we’re excited to highlight our innovation pioneering Silicon Technology into watchmaking, with a new flagship boutique in the heart of Silicon Valley. Our partnership with Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry allows collectors across the tech community and beyond to access the latest novelties from Ulysse Nardin.”
François Xavier Hotier of Ulysse Nardin Americas emphasized the brand’s blend of tradition and innovation: “The Ulysse Nardin boutique at The Villa Menlo Park is a manifestation of what ‘UN’ is made of: the 179-year heritage of a Swiss Manufacture blended with futuristic, high horology as an art form. Here, watch aficionados and our cult-enthusiasts will find the very rare, the very new, and the very best of Ulysse Nardin in a boutique designed as a ‘white lab’ for watch collectors.”
The design of the boutique reflects Ulysse Nardin’s approach to horology, incorporating both natural and technological elements. It features brushed and polished surfaces, mineral-inspired details, and a clean, contemporary aesthetic. A unique light installation inside the boutique spells out “Silicon Inside” in reverse, which, when reflected in the boutique’s mirrored surfaces, appears correctly. This design element pays tribute to Ulysse Nardin’s pioneering use of Silicon Technology in its watchmaking, beginning with the launch of the Freak timepiece in 2001.
“In designing Ulysse Nardin’s boutique, I wanted to create a space where time becomes tangible,” said boutique designer Bertrand Fairerol. “From the reflective materials that mirror the passage of time to the mineral-inspired elements that evoke nature’s raw beauty, the boutique embodies the bold and unconventional spirit of the Freak watch. The ‘Silicon Inside’ light installation was an opportunity to connect the boutique to its Silicon Valley home while celebrating the transformative material that is at the heart of Ulysse Nardin’s innovation.”
The opening of the Ulysse Nardin boutique strengthens Silicon Valley’s reputation as a hub for high-end retail and precision horology. Reiterating this very sentiment, Jared Silver, President of Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry, said, “Silicon Valley collectors have a deep appreciation for independent watchmakers like Ulysse Nardin, brands driven by vision, creativity, and true independence. These values resonate strongly in our community, which has always celebrated innovation at its best.
