Limited to just 10 pieces – a U.S. Exclusive

Ulysse Nardin’s Blast [Free Wheel Marquetry Silicon Green] Showcases its Mastery of the Element for its Silicon Valley Boutique.

Long known for its leadership in engineering silicon parts for watchmaking, Ulysse Nardin is now demonstrating its evolving skill in using silicon as a decorative art and fine craftsmanship.

The Blast [Free Wheel Marquetry Silicon Green] was conceived as an ode to Silicon Valley, California. The striking emerald green silicon marquetry dial evokes the construction of a circuit board, but the motif is much more than simple coloration.

The patterns were achieved using colored monocrystalline silicon, which, similar to traditional marquetry forms, is laser cut and arranged in precise patterns.

The Blast Free Wheel also contains crucial functioning components in silicon, including hairspring and escapement. However, its architecture is the feature that sets it apart from most other watches in its class. It was conceived as an artistic open works movement, where key components sit above the dial, but their mechanical connections remain concealed.

Visible are the tourbillon cage, a constant force mechanism (to precisely feed power to the tourbillon regardless of the state of wind), and a flying double-barrel with 7-day power reserve. Each dial requires the precise micro-arrangement of 103 slivers of matte or polished (to create further visual depth) laser-cut radiant green monocrystalline silicon segments.

The design is intended to provoke mystery as to the inner functioning of the mechanism—a quality that will be familiar to anyone operating in our digital world.