There?s a narrative that has emerged around the Ulysse Nardin Freak over the years that its an extremely niche product, and something of a difficult watch to fully wrap your arms around. It?s strange, yes, even avant-garde, but as I?ve spent more time considering the Freak, I?ve come around to the other side of this story. I wonder, how can anyone not love the Freak" Even if it?s not to your specific taste, the Freak is an original, and one of a handful of truly important designs that would set the stage for a generation of interesting, independent watchmaking that we?re still living through today. The Freak might not be for everyone, but everyone should be able to agree that there?s something special about it. 

The latest Freak, the Freak [X OPS] is part of the still relatively new Freak X lineup, a collection that aims to make the watch more approachable. Blake went hands-on with a Freak X here, and both the review and video (complete with commentary from a watchmaker) are worth a look if you?re new to the Freak universe. But the gist of the Freak X is relatively easy to understand: it?s smaller than a traditional Freak, and it has a crown. Historically, the Freak was marketed as a watch with ?No Dial, No Hands, No Crown.? A curious rallying cry for sure, and a tough thing to picture. But when you see it, it all (kind of) makes sense. For me, the addition of a crown doesn?t feel like too much of a transgression. The visual impression of the Freak X is stil...