WORDS
Eleanor Pryor
Ulysse Nardin is a company steeped in heritage, becoming renowned as one of the first manufacturers of marine chronometers in 1846. It continues this innovative spirit today with daring creations that tap into this watchmaking expertise, presented in thoroughly contemporary and out-there designs.
Its latest release, the Blast, takes inspiration from the extremities of nature for a daring timepiece with an openworked dial that catches the eye with its bold, geometric lines. At the centre is the watchmaker’s trademark X-shaped cage, in which lies its new automatic silicium tourbillon, beating at a frequency of 2.5 Hz. Other signature Ulysse Nardin elements make an appearance, including the rectangular frame that adds further dimension to the dial. Its overall aesthetic takes inspiration from the sharp lines of stealth aircraft, featuring redesigned watch horns with angular surfaces in polished, satin-finish and sand-blasted veneer that intriguingly play with the light.
The watch is just as futuristic inside, equipped with the UN-172 movement. As well as offering an impressive three-day power reserve, it features an automatic tourbillon for the first time within Ulysse Nardin’s Skeleton collection, alongside a new platinum micro-rotor, visible at 12 o’clock. The Blast comes in four striking models; an all-black version in ceramic, two-tone black ceramic and rose gold, titanium with a blue bezel and a white and titanium model inspired by the icy landscape of Antarctica.