Since its debut in 2020, the Ulysse Nardin Blast collection has boldly asserted itself as a cornerstone of avant-garde design and technical watchmaking prowess. Famed for its architectural skeletonisation, angular aesthetics, and the incorporation of silicon technology — a field the brand pioneered with its groundbreaking Freak model back in 2001 — the Blast has consistently pushed creative and horological limits. Now, Ulysse Nardin introduces perhaps its most visually arresting and extravagant creation yet: the Blast Sparkling Rainbow.
This watch isn’t just a timepiece — it’s a statement. Taking the popular trend of rainbow gem-set bezels to its most maximalist conclusion, the Blast Sparkling Rainbow is lavishly encrusted with sapphires across nearly every visible surface. From the case and bezel to the movement bridges and even the buckle, this 45mm marvel is covered in a vibrant spectrum of meticulously arranged baguette-cut stones.
The artistry of the invisible setting technique, or what Ulysse Nardin calls mystery setting, is particularly impressive. This ultra-precise gem-setting process allows for a seamless facade where no gold is visible from the top, and where each coloured sapphire appears to float in place. The result is a mosaic-like canvas of rainbow hues that shimmers with remarkable intensity as it catches the light from every angle.
The numbers themselves are staggering. The white gold case alone is adorned with 77 sapphires, adding up to 5.82 carats, while the bezel features 64 sapphires totalling 3.92 carats. The skeletonised dial is not spared either, with 48 baguette sapphires weighing 2.46 carats, and even the white gold crown features 8 invisibly set sapphires at 0.2 carats. Altogether, the watch dazzles with 211 multicoloured sapphires — a combined 13.33 carats of radiant opulence.
Despite its ostentatious jewellery, the Blast Sparkling Rainbow remains a serious feat of watchmaking beneath the gemstone spectacle. The skeleton architecture showcases the meticulously hand-finished UN-172 calibre, an in-house automatic movement that offers 72 hours of power reserve. Among its notable features is a platinum micro-rotor positioned at 12 o’clock, which allows for a slimmer profile while still delivering efficient winding. At 6 o’clock, a flying tourbillon — the hallmark complication of haute horlogerie — rotates gracefully in full view, its delicate balance wheel protected by a silicon escapement and hairspring.
The choice of strap continues the theme of contemporary luxury. A white rubber strap, seamlessly integrated into the case, offers both comfort and a sleek, modern counterpoint to the maximalist sparkle. It is fastened with a white gold deployant buckle, which itself is set with 14 rainbow sapphires totalling 0.93 carats, underscoring the obsessive attention to detail that permeates every component of this masterpiece.
With only eight pieces produced worldwide, the Blast Sparkling Rainbow is as exclusive as it is extravagant. The retail price is CHF 451,700, a figure befitting its dual status as both haute horlogerie and high jewellery. For collectors and connoisseurs who prize rarity, innovation, and spectacle in equal measure, this timepiece represents a sublime confluence of craft and creativity.
In an era where watch design often finds itself navigating the fine line between utility and artistry, Ulysse Nardin has thrown caution — and restraint — to the wind. With the Blast Sparkling Rainbow, the brand invites us to embrace excess in the most meticulous and masterful way. Not merely a watch, this is a piece of kinetic art — alive with colour, alive with time.
