Swiss watch brand Ulysse Nardin has introduced its newest masterpiece that is completely covered with diamonds and takes the level of visual brilliance to a whole new level. Ulysse Nardin has been an integral part of the landscape of Le Locle, known as a center of Swiss watchmaking, for 175 years. Located in the Jura Mountains, close to the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle turns into a snowy wonderland in winter and the bucolic setting of the town wrapped in a think a layer of snow is a sight to behold. Ulysse Nardin has tried capturing the delightful visuals offered by snow-covered Le Locle through the exquisite gem-setting on its latest creation called the Sparkling Free Wheel.
The new Ulysse Nardin Sparkling Free Wheel timepiece is based on the Executive Free Wheel that debuted back in 2018. The unusual watch is a compelling reinterpretation of a mystery clock with its distinct dial where the components are artfully hidden and exposed for a stunning visual effect. The Sparkling Free Wheel is adorned with a total of 2,251 pavé-set, top-quality stones that have been meticulously selected and comprise a total of 5.90 carats. The exquisite gem-setting technique used for covering just about all visible surfaces of the watch is known as “snow-setting.” Geneva-based workshop Art Setting was tasked with the job of finishing the Sparkling Free Wheel that needed diamonds of different sizes to be placed side by side to completely cover the watch’s surface, like a blanket of fresh snow. This process alone takes 120 hours of work for each watch. The 44mm case houses the same UN-176 caliber found in the original Executive Free Wheel that uses silicon in its high-performance and low-wear Ulysse Anchor Escapement, thanks to which the movement offers an impressive power reserve of seven days. Only 8 examples of the Ulysse Nardin Sparkling Free Wheel will be available for sale, priced at 225,000 CHF (about $248,000 USD).
[Via: Haute Time]
