Ulysse Nardin Masters The Art Of Silicon With New Blast Free Wheel Marquetry - Geneva Watch Days 2023
5 min read
Legendary Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has unveiled its most technically advanced and artistically complex creation yet - the revolutionary Blast Free Wheel Marquetry at Geneva Watch Days 2023!
With the new Blast Free Wheel Marquetry, Ulysse Nardin has once again affirmed its position at the cutting-edge of haute horlogerie. The independent watch Manufacture is renowned for its pioneering use of silicon and other high-tech materials, as well as its disruptive, modern aesthetic. This latest creation takes Ulysse Nardin's visionary approach to new heights, with a mesmerizing blue marquetry dial made of silicon, an array of floating mechanisms, and a radical case design.
Mastering the Art of Silicon
The dial is decorated with an intricate marquetry pattern comprised of 103 meticulously hand-assembled slivers of silicon in shades of blue. The alternating matt and mirror-polished surfaces in two different thicknesses (0.30mm and 0.35mm) create remarkable depth and light effects. Assembling this mosaic represents many hours of highly skilled labor by Ulysse Nardin's master artisans. It marks the first time the Maison has expressed its specialized marquetry expertise on a Blast timepiece.
Beneath the artistic exterior lies Ulysse Nardin's groundbreaking new UN-176 manufacture movement. In a visually arresting display, components seem to float weightlessly across the dial without any visible attachments.
The highlight is a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock, incorporating Ulysse Nardin's revolutionary Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement made of silicon. Its unique geometry earned the Prix du Tourbillon at the 2015 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
Soaring above at 12 o'clock is a flying barrel providing a generous 7-day power reserve. An ingenious indicator at 4 o'clock shows remaining reserve through a minimalist display. As the power depletes, the number of colored bands decreases from three to one.
Other visible flying components include the winding wheel, reduction gear, power reserve differential, and intermediate wheel. Observing their meticulously choreographed mechanical ballet is mesmerizing.
The 45mm case is crafted in white gold and features Ulysse Nardin's signature Blast faceted design. The complex geometrical facets are executed using an advanced laser engraving technique. An extra-wide box crystal provides panoramic views of the mesmerizing dial mechanics. The exhibition caseback also reveals a blue silicon marquetry decoration – a first for Ulysse Nardin.
With its masterful blend of cutting-edge horology, artistic sophistication, and daring contemporary aesthetics, the new Blast Free Wheel Marquetry exemplifies Ulysse Nardin's restless pioneering spirit.
