Ulysse Nardin Makes Time Appear Weightless Through a Creation That Defies Watchmaking

Ulysse Nardin has long been recognised for reimagining the boundaries of fine watchmaking, but its latest creation, the BLAST Free Wheel Maillechort, is a statement of technical bravura as much as it is of design.

Produced in a limited series of only fifty pieces, it brings together the Maison’s mastery of mechanical innovation with an aesthetic that appears almost weightless.

Within its crystalline case, the BLAST Free Wheel Maillechort reveals a movement that seems to float freely in space. This is the UN-176 calibre, a construction that required two years of development and embodies both precision and spectacle.

At its heart is the Ulysse Anchor Constant Escapement, a tourbillon mechanism crafted in silicon, which guarantees even energy delivery to the balance wheel.

This breakthrough, which won the Tourbillon Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2015, remains one of the most significant innovations in modern watchmaking.

At twelve o’clock, a double-barrel system appears suspended without support. One barrel is exposed, the other concealed, yet both combine to deliver an impressive seven-day power reserve.

Its measure is discreetly indicated at four o’clock, through a static hand and a revolving disc that shifts as the watch unwinds. Every visible element, from the reduction gears to the winding system, is designed to emphasise the sensation of mechanics detached from gravity.

The dial is fashioned from Maillechort, an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel with a distinctive warm tone and textured surface. Once used in musical instruments for its acoustic properties, Maillechort is prized in watchmaking for its resilience and its ability to develop a natural patina over time, ensuring each piece evolves with its wearer.

The case, measuring 45 mm, is crafted from white gold and features facets created through advanced laser techniques. It houses an ultra-glass box in sapphire crystal carved from a single block and hollowed to create a domed transparency that frames the movement from every angle.

The open case back continues the theme, revealing both the calibre and a Maillechort plate, underscoring the Maison’s attention to materiality. The watch is completed with a blue velvet-effect rubber strap and a white gold folding clasp, combining comfort with presence.

Since its founding in 1846 in Le Locle, Ulysse Nardin has built a reputation for independence and innovation.

From marine chronometers trusted by navies to avant-garde designs like the Freak, the brand has consistently defied convention. The BLAST Free Wheel Maillechort continues this narrative, balancing contemporary engineering with an artisanal respect for tradition.

Priced at 120,000 CHF, this limited edition of fifty is an invitation to experience a rare convergence of technology, design and exclusivity, where every glance reveals something unexpected.