Introducing: The Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Maillechort

Open-worked high-end watches aren’t uncommon. In fact, at a certain level of exclusivity, they’re rather typical. Yet, when I opened my messages the other day, a head-turning piece was staring back at me. The new Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Maillechort is a unique-looking object because of its simplicity and finishing.

Yes, I shot a note to Nacho requesting to write about the new Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Maillechort. For some reason, the watch struck a chord with me, and that’s not a guarantee with a skeletonized or open-worked piece. Rather than continuing to gush about it, let’s examine what makes this watch so appealing.

The Ulysse Nardin Blast Free Wheel Maillechort

This latest Ulysse Nardin is an 18K white gold watch with a 45mm diameter and a 12.4mm total thickness. The sharply angled case features polished edges and coarsely brushed top surfaces. A dark blue rubber strap with a matte surface fits into the non-traditional lugs. Naturally, a white gold folding clasp is included. The water resistance rating, for those who would bravely choose to exploit it, is 30 meters.

From the side, the visual delights continue with a cage-like structure and deeply inset sapphire crystal. Perhaps due to its transparent appearance, Ulysse Nardin states that the Blast Free Wheel Maillechort has a perceived 8.75mm profile. While I doubt anyone will calculate to the second decimal point at a glance, the look is striking.

An amazing dial

The Blast Free Wheel Maillechort gets its name from the use of the 19th-century alloy consisting of copper, zinc, and nickel. Normally, the metal is found on musical instruments because of its resonance properties, but it looks fantastic here as the mainplate. It is also known for its tendency to oxidize and develop a lovely patina, but that seems unlikely within the sealed confines of a watch case. Blue details match the strap and add contrast against the mostly silver visage. For time-telling, the watch has gray chamfered hands with Super-LumiNova.

The rest of the dial is no less intriguing. Again, what I like about it is its simplicity. The watch uses the brand’s UN-176 manufacture hand-winding caliber, which features a flying tourbillon and an astounding seven-day power reserve. Detail-wise, the watch features a power reserve indicator at 4 o’clock, but the display is atypical. The pointed hand remains static with three moving arc-like pieces. As the power reserve drains, fewer arcs are present across from the pointer.  The bottom of the dial features a constant-force tourbillon with a silicon hairspring and escapement. Finally, at the top, there is a large double barrel.

Availability and pricing of the Free Wheel Maillechort

Ulysse Nardin will produce just 50 of the Blast Free Wheel Maillechort, and the price is a heady €128,100. Sure, that’s a lot of money, but it’s not unexpected for a wildly designed white gold tourbillon with seven days of power reserve. This is rare air indeed, but I think it’s a beauty. Would I like it even more if it were closer to 40mm? Absolutely, but the mechanics likely dictate the proportions to some degree. Plus, the increased real estate helps provide the illusion of space on the very pretty dial. Let us know your thoughts on this piece and if you’re as taken with it as I am!