Haute News: Ulysse Nardin Unveils The Blast Tourbillon Dragon

Today, Ulysse Nardin is ushering in the 2024 Lunar New Year, which is the Year of the Dragon, with the launch of the Blast Tourbillon Dragon. Combining the brand’s signature unconventional design and high-tech horological expertise with the ancient magic of Chinese folklore to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, the Blast Tourbillon Dragon transcends beyond the timepiece.

This year marks the Year of the Dragon in traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing strength, power, and good fortune. Dragons are often associated with pearls, which represent purity, wisdom, and wealth. When these two symbols converge, they signify a harmonious blend of power and prosperity. The Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon brings this symbolism to life. A hand-sculpted 5N rose gold dragon coils around and through the watch’s iconic skeletonized X structure, cradling within the dragon’s five-clawed hands is a mythical pearl, perched atop the flying tourbillon cage. In Chinese culture, five-clawed dragons are associated with Imperial dynasties and represent the highest prestige.

Creating the 3D dragon that appears to slide beneath the watch’s hands and gears presented significant challenges, resulting in a two-year development process. Crafted from rose gold, the dragon undergoes meticulous hand-engraving and micro-painting, with gradated shades of red, orange, and yellow applied over four days. Every aspect of the dragon, from its scales to its whiskers and claws, is rendered with precision and artistry.

The Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon is powered by the caliber UN-172, a skeleton tourbillon movement with automatic winding. Its platinum micro-rotor, visible at 12 o’clock, provides up to three days of power reserve. The flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock benefits from Ulysse Nardin’s pioneering use of silicon, enhancing its performance and resistance. The watch’s design is a harmonious marriage of movement and case, with a rose gold upper case featuring angular facets and opulent finishes, paired with a DLC-blackened titanium bezel and case middle. It is elegantly presented on an integrated black alligator strap with a 5N rose gold and black PVD titanium folding clasp.

The Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Dragon tells a story that fuses ancient mythology and cutting-edge horology — ultimately welcoming in the Year of the Dragon, proven to be a very powerful year.