Ulysse Nardin combines German silver dial and floating movement in new limited edition watch
Ulysse Nardin is a renowned watchmaker with roots stretching back to 1846, and it's famous for its in-house movement development (and an appetite for unconventional designs). The company’s historic strength in marine chronometry is still a core part of its identity, but recent years have seen the company pivot to technical experimentation. After a period of transition, Ulysse Nardin’s launches are leaning more towards limited production pieces with extraordinary mechanical configurations, and this new one is no exception.
The Blast Free Wheel Maillechort, the latest entry, is a limited edition of 50 units and is built around the UN-176 manual-winding caliber - a movement first introduced to the Blast line in previous iterations, here paired with a mainplate made from maillechort, or German silver. Used mostly in classic watchmaking, the dial’s silver-grey finish is coarse and muted, which lends the watch a pronounced contrast to the sharply angled 18-carat white gold case. The case itself measures 45mm by 12.4mm and is water-resistant to 30 meters. Sapphire glass covers both front and back.
The watch features sort of a "floating" arrangement where key components, like the double barrels at 12 o’clock, flying tourbillon at 6, and a static power reserve display at 4, appear detached from traditional bridges. The power reserve indicator stays still, and it displays three visible bands when the barrels are fully wound, dropping to one as the reserve depletes.
On the wrist, the Blast Free Wheel Maillechort is somewhat hefty at roughly 150g. It is delivered with a blue velvet rubber strap. Pricing is set at $126,600 before taxes, placing it firmly among the costliest contemporary Ulysse Nardin release (like the Blast Sparkling Rainbow), which, interestingly, is a segment with no shortage of alternatives for serious collectors and fans.
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