While the Freak is without question Ulysse Nardin’s most recognisable horological innovation, it’s by no means their only one. Back in 2015, a decade ago, they won the GPHG in the tourbillon category for their Flying Tourbillon with Constant Force Escapement. On the occasion of its 10-year anniversary, Ulysse Nardin have taken that same tourbillon mechanism and presented it in a new limited edition of 50 pieces as part of the Blast Free Wheel Maillechort.
The new watch features an incredibly distinctive display with flying components that rise out of the dial in isolation like small horological islands. The archipelago that runs from 12 o’clock anticlockwise to 8 o’clock is the double power barrel, power reserve differential and intermediary wheel. At 6 o’clock is the aforementioned Flying Tourbillon with Constant Force Escapement, 4 o’clock is the power reserve indicator and 3 o’clock is the winding mechanism.
Focussing in on that award-winning tourbillon, it uses the Ulysse Nardin Anchor Constant Escapement. A constant force mechanism is one that ensures there is a constant and consistent flow of power through the system regardless of how much energy is stored in the power barrel. In a typical movement, as the amount of energy reduces, so does the power and torque, reducing accuracy. Ulysse Nardin’s mechanism avoids this by replacing the normal pivot and jewels of an anchor escapement with blade springs. Essentially, as the anchor moves, it primes one of the springs that then pushes it back the other way, ensuring that each impulse has the same force behind it.
The power reserve indicator is also somewhat unusual because instead of using a hand to point to a static gauge (like a fuel indicator in a car) it uses a rotating disc with three bands on it that moves past a static indicator. When all three bands are showing, the reserve is full, when only one band is show, it’s nearly empty. The transition from full to empty takes seven days so you have a lot of time to wind it before the watch stops.
Giving the watch its name is the Maillechort dial. Maillechort is better known by its moniker German Silver, an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. It’s actually similar to brass, the normal dial material of choice, with the primary difference being the addition of nickel to make it silver coloured. So Maillechort is a very suitable dial metal. It also features a distinctive grainy pattern when not polished, which looks great.
Moving out from the dial, the case is in what Ulysse Nardin call an Ultra-Glass Box style, which translates to a 45mm diameter white gold case with low sides and a prominent box style sapphire crystal that lets you view the flying elements of the dial from a wide range of angles. It feels very modern like a contemporary art gallery full of wide skylights.
The Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Maillechort is limited to 50 pieces at a price of £111,380. There’s a tendency with haute horology to go over the top with every possible aspect of the design – as in the case with MB&F’s Horology Machines – but Ulysse Nardin show that there is another way. The layout of the watch is unusual and distinctive but it’s not extravagant or ostentatious. A perfect balance.
Price and Specs:
More details at Ulysse Nardin.
I will keep it short in terms of my normal feedback.
Technically superb (obviously for this watch brand)
I’m thinking the designer was on his break and left his sketch pad open for the office cleaner / sci-fi nerd, to add their own interpretation, – too many visible cogs and wheels and a bit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory for my liking, particularly the single colour palette.
Obviously the price is also in the NASA space probe region.