One week after the launch of the BLAST collection at the Geneva Watch Days, Ulysse Nardin presents an astonishing new BLAST high jewellery timepiece, an openworked automatic tourbillon embellished with what appears to be a mosaic of hundreds of shattered shards of mirror. Made from expertly, geometrically cut diamonds, each faceted stone is sculpted by hand.
The movement of the watch is visible through the face, a tour de force of skeletonized handiwork perfected over a century and a half of master craftsmanship at Ulysse Nardin. The new SPARKLING BLAST is a limited edition, creates in an exclusive, exceptional and selective edition; three in white gold with a white rubber strap and three in white gold with a deep blue, alligator strap; each model is limited to three watches.
With an Xplosion of 85 distinct and unique cuts of diamonds, this masterpiece is composed of a stunning 211 diamonds for a total weight of 13 carats. The symbolic “X” – trademark of Ulysse Nardin – is also set with sparkling diamonds, embedded directly into the watch face, sealing the seamless look of timeless elegance and luXury. The self-deploying buckle is itself adorned with 1.22 carats of pure brilliance. The crown, bezel and index hands are also set with hand-faceted diamonds, each part an original work of art in and of itself. It is a treasure to be enjoyed up to 50 meters in depth as you bask in the sun glinting off the waves.
Of course, all the same features of the original BLAST can be found on this timepiece. Powered by the UN-172 movement, with a micro-rotor in platinum and a three-day power reserve, this 45 mm skeletonized timepiece is equipped with a 2.5 Hz Silicium flying automatic tourbillon.
THE BROKEN SHARDS AND THE STEALTH DESIGN: A GEOMETRICAL GAME OF LIGHT AND MIRRORS
The architecture of the watch horns lends itself perfectly to the diamonds set within it. Like a geometrical mind game, they come together to form a breathtaking mosaic. The designers at Ulysse Nardin fashioned the horns after a stealth aircraft, which has a sleek design conceived with stealth technology to avoid detection. These shapes lend themselves expertly to the “broken mirror effect” generated when they are faceted with diamonds. The idea was to create an exceptional watch that was also a piece of jewelry on the wrist. This is the King of BLASTS, shockwaves of cracked diamonds in its cosmic setting.
THE INVISIBLE DIAMOND SETTING: AN ANCIENT TECHNIQUE THAT LENDS ITSELF TO A MODERN MASTERPIECE
These gems are positioned in invisible settings to avoid marring the brilliance of their hand-cut majesty and in order to best reflect the ambient light. Each gem is faceted in perfect harmony with the design of the watch. The artisans at Ulysse Nardin used this “invisible setting” to show the diamonds in their most favorable light. A French process perfected approximately 200 years ago most used when multiple diamonds are mounted in a row (or multiple rows), this marks the first time this noble craft has been used at Ulysse Nardin. It is the most difficult maneuver for a jeweler to master because it uses no prongs or bezels, which could detract from the glimmer of the precious stones. The diamonds, held in place from below by a hidden structure, appear to be floating inside of the precious metal ring. This composition grips each diamond on a small groove cut into each base and fixed into the metal framework, invisible from the surface. Not used for round-cut diamonds or stones with rounded edges, the invisible setting requires that their “flat” sides are set side by side then fixed into the bedrock of the metal.
THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS: A RESPONSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT GUARANTEE OF A SOLID, TRACEABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
Ulysse Nardin applies and respects the controls implanted by the Kimberley Process, a system used to ensure that no “conflict diamonds” enter the supply chain. All diamonds acquired by Ulysse Nardin comply with the World Diamond Council System of Warranties, which is bound by the rules instated by the Kimberley Process. Strict requirements and official certificates are obligatory in the thorough verification of the provenance of rough diamonds. Once they have been cut, the diamonds are accompanied by a declaration from the World Diamond Council System of Warranties. This declaration states: "The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds."
