Swiss luxury watch brand Ulysse Nardin reveals its mastery in technological innovations and daring designs with the new Blast Free Wheel Marquetry.
As a tribute to the movement of the iconic Freak, the first incorporating silicon in 2001, the UN-176 Manufacture calibre also reveals on the face of the watch its wheels, tourbillon with Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement, barrel and 7-day power reserve display, which all seem to fly over this impressive mosaic with no visible attachment.
Made of 18K white gold, the 45mm Blast case boasts eye-catching negative angle facets designed using a complex laser method. Perfectly echoing the marquetry motif, its geometric lines feature an ultra-glass box that offers a wide-open view of the mysterious movement, which is also visible through the sides.
While Ulysse Nardin has presented several limited editions of the Freak X adorned with a multi-coloured silicon marquetry disc since 2019, it is the first time this craftsmanship has been expressed in the Blast collection.
In this new watch, 103 radiant blue marquetry silicon plates adorn the dial. Because of the variation of micron-precise matt and mirror polished surfaces and the use of two different thicknesses (0.30 and 0.35 mm), their changing reflections and contrasts accentuate the piece’s three-dimensionality to spectacular effect.
Furthermore, the case back of the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry is embellished for the first time of a blue silicon plate.
Signature of the Manufacture, the flying tourbillon of the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry located at 6 o’clock is composed of 45 components and boasts a revolutionary constant escapement.
Challenging the principle of the traditional anchor escapement, the Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement features a circular frame with a pallet fork fixed in the center, supported in space on two blade springs less than a quarter of the thickness of a hair in diameter.
Mounted perpendicular to each other, these are subjected to a bending force that curves them and maintains them. This major technical achievement directed by Ulysse Nardin guarantees a perfectly even impulse on the balance wheel, irrespective of the watch’s power reserve. Thanks to the silicon technology also incorporated in the hairspring and the escapement-wheel, the jewels of the usual escapement-wheel become superfluous, as does the anchor pivot.
Other elements seem to float over the silicon dial, such as the flying barrel at 12 o’clock, without any visible attachment on the surface. The energy it accumulates provides the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry with an exceptional autonomy of seven days – indicated by a highly original power reserve display at 4 o’clock.
The indicator remains static, unlike the display disc: three bands opposing the indicator mean that the watch is fully wound, while a single band means that the power reserve is almost empty.
In addition, several additional flying mechanisms are displayed on either side of the barrel: on its left, an intermediate wheel, a power reserve differential, and a reduction gear; on its right, the winding mechanism that connects it to the crown’s winding stem.
Technical details
Model: Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Marquetry, Reference 1760-401-3A/3A (velvet effect strap)
Movement
UN-176 Manufacture manual movement
Flying Tourbillon with Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement
Escapement wheel, anchor & balance spring in silicon
Blades technology
Hours, minutes
Power reserve indicator at 4 o’clock
249 Components / 23 Jewels
Frequency: 2.5 Hz / Oscillations 18,000 vph
Power reserve: 7 days
Case
White gold satin-finished & polished case
White gold opened sapphire case-back with matt silicon plate
Diameter: 45 mm
Water resistance: 30 m
Dial
Blue matt and polished silicon marquetry dial
Grey hands with Superluminova®
Strap
Blue velvet effect waterproof rubber strap
Blue alligator leather strap
Compatible with other Blast Tourbillon straps
White gold deployant buckle
Suggested retail price
130’000 CHF/ 120’670 GBP/ 137’200 USD (tax excl.)/ 139’200 EUR (21% VAT incl.)
