Ulysse Nardin Unveils the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry: A Visionary Fusion of Art & Technology

Last week, Ulysse Nardin once again pushed the boundaries of horological artistry and technical precision with the introduction of the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry. The new timepiece highlights silicon as a material that is not only ultra-technical but also a canvas for artistic expression.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

In a tribute to the iconic Freak, which was the first watch to incorporate silicon in 2001, the UN-176 Manufacture caliber of the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry takes center stage, revealing its intricate components right on the watch’s dial. This mesmerizing display includes the wheels, tourbillon with Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement, barrel, and a 7-day power reserve indicator, all seemingly suspended in a captivating mosaic without any visible attachments.

The unconventional beauty of this timepiece is housed in a 45-mm white gold Blast case, characterized by its negative angle facets, achieved through a complex laser method. This unique case design, known for its disruptive aesthetics and ergonomic excellence, underscores Ulysse Nardin’s mastery as an independent Manufacturer. The geometric lines of the case feature an ultra-glass box, offering a panoramic view of the enigmatic movement, visible not only from the front but also through the sides.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

At the heart of this edgy Haute Horlogerie complication lies the original and innovative UN-176 movement, challenging the principles of traditional watchmaking. It took two years of intensive research and development by Ulysse Nardin’s technical department to perfect this flying caliber entirely designed in-house.

The signature flying tourbillon, positioned at 6 o’clock, consists of 45 components and boasts a revolutionary constant escapement known as the Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement. Departing from the traditional anchor escapement, this breakthrough design features a circular frame with a pallet fork fixed in the center, supported in space by two blade springs, each less than a quarter of the thickness of a human hair. This remarkable technical achievement ensures a consistent impulse on the balance wheel, regardless of the watch’s power reserve.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

The Blast Free Wheel Marquetry also features a flying barrel at 12 o’clock, visibly suspended without any visible attachments. This barrel provides the timepiece with an exceptional power reserve of seven days, indicated by a unique power reserve display at 4 o’clock. The power reserve indicator, composed of three bands, remains static, providing clear information about the watch’s winding status.

In a visually captivating manner, the flying tourbillon, anchor, and wheels on the silicon dial seem to perform an intricate dance, offering a mesmerizing insight into the mechanical intricacies crafted by Ulysse Nardin.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

But the true innovation of the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry lies in its dial, adorned with 103 radiant blue marquetry slivers, transforming it into a mesmerizing work of art. The careful variation of micron-precise matt and mirror-polished surfaces and the use of two different thicknesses (0.30 and 0.35 mm) create an ever-changing play of reflections and contrasts, lending a stunning three-dimensionality to the timepiece.

Crafting the dial is a meticulous process that requires extraordinary dexterity to assemble the small silicon plates without breakage or damage. Notably, the case back of the Blast Free Wheel Marquetry also features a blue silicon plate, demonstrating the meticulous attention to detail given to every aspect of this high-end masterpiece.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

In a world where tradition meets innovation, Ulysse Nardin’s Blast Free Wheel Marquetry represents the pinnacle of horological artistry, technical excellence, and artistic expression, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in watchmaking.