Alright, buckle up because Ulysse Nardin just dropped a bombshell during this year’s Geneva Watch Days. Feast your eyes on the uber-cool Blast Free Wheel Marquetry – a true work of horological artistry. This bad boy takes silicon to a whole new level and draws inspiration from the Executive Free Wheel Tourbillon’s mesmerizing movement display. It’s all about that “floating” vibe with a flying tourbillon, poised gear train, and a power reserve indicator.
This piece is rocking multi-colored silicon marquetry, a technique that’s been turning heads on the Freak X editions since 2019. And guess what? This is the first time they’re bringing this artistic wizardry to the Blast collection.
Imagine strapping on a 45mm white gold Blast case. It’s like wrist domination, especially since they skipped the regular bezel, giving you a front row seat to the dial’s action-packed display. And don’t worry about feeling like you’re wearing a brick – they’ve nailed the ergonomic game, just like the previous UN Blast watches. They’ve even got this glass box thing going on, blending seamlessly into the case structure. Trust me, it’s like having a VIP pass to see the UN-176 Manufacture calibre doing its thing. And hey, the view doesn’t stop there; you’ve got a peek at the sides too.
Now, let’s dive into the dial itself. Imagine a mosaic-like masterpiece with all the bits and pieces arranged like a symphony. Right at 12 o’clock, you’ve got this exquisite barrel that packs a punch with a 7-day power reserve. Check out 3 o’clock for the decorated winding wheel, and 4 o’clock shows off the power reserve indicator (even though the mechanism for it is tucked at 8 o’clock). And the pièce de résistance? That flying tourbillon hanging out gracefully at 6 o’clock, flaunting the Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement.
But here’s where it gets super cool – the dial is like a canvas for 103 luminous blue silicium marquetry inlays. It’s like art on your wrist, seriously. The craftsmanship here is off the charts – with the play of matte and mirror-polished surfaces across two different thicknesses, 0.30mm and 0.35mm, giving you this mind-bending 3D vibe.
Crafting this dial is like a masterclass in patience. Skilled artisans have to place these tiny silicon plates just right, and it’s a painstaking process. They’re like the guardians of fragility, making sure nothing breaks or gets messed up. And hey, flip it over, and the case back wows you with a blue silicon plate.
You’ve got options – a velvet-effect waterproof rubber strap or a suave blue alligator leather strap, compatible with other Blast Tourbillon straps. And they’ve got you covered with a white gold deployant buckle.
None of this comes cheap so these are selling for a hefty CHF 130,000.
