Introduced in the late 1980s, Ulysse Nardin's San Marco automaton models pay tribute to late 17th century watchmaking by creating striking watches combined with an automaton, the dials featuring jacquemarts, a world's premiere.

The firm commissioned the renowned watchmaker Christophe Clarets with the development of the movements, launching the firm's tradition of producing complicated automated wristwatches, made in limited editions only.

The jacquemart radiating over the dial is crafted in 18K gold, it apparently strikes the bell upon activation of the mechanism or at the passing of the hours. It is an accurate reproduction of the jacquemarts designed by Paolo Savin and cast in bronze by Ambrogio dell'Anchore in 1497 on the clock tower overseing Venice's San Marco's square.