Creativity takes its part in Ulysse Nardin’s new tourbillion watch. With intriguing designs the latest tourbillion is an interpretation of the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon. The original model focused more on showing off the mechanical parts of the timepiece while the ‘Free Wheel’ model lays back and is more simplistic. The only parts shown in the tourbillion are only the essentials such as the barrel, tourbillon regulator, power reserve display and wheel trains seemingly floating on the dial, unencumbered by any visible support.
The new ‘Free Wheel” tourbillion is available in 18k rose or white gold and is 44mm in diameter. The most beautiful part about this timepiece is the highly domed sapphire glass. The watch is actually pretty slim plus its case band that makes it seem as thinner. The lugs introduced have been modified to be more streamlined.
Underneath the domed sapphire glass lays a black made of black slate stone on the rose gold model, or a black honeycomb grid dial for the white gold version.
The gears sit in an elevated position, along with several boomerang-shaped bridges that support the tourbillon and power reserve indicator while the dial forms the stage. The vital moving parts of the watch appear to hover above the dial.
The caseback is fitted with a sapphire crystal with its essential movements. The back of the case may not have the greatest details but the movement is very crucial. Newly developed, in-house and hand-wound UN-176, which offers an impressive seven-day power reserve. The flying tourbillion is equipped with Ulysse Nardin’s hallmark anchor escapement, made entirely from silicon.
To provide constant force, the Ulysse Nardin Anchor Escapement relies on the unique elasticity of silicon. And instead of a pivot, two perpendicular, buckled blades of silicon on both sides of the frame converge at the pivot point of the lever.
The Ulysse Nardin Executive Tourbillon Free Wheel in rose gold (ref. 1766-176) is priced at US$96,000 or S$147,700, while the white gold version (ref. 1706-176) is US$99,000, or S$152,300.
