Highly Expensive Watches

List Price 2011

Ulysse Nardin - Royal Blue Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie ($1,1 Million)

Blue is the color of royalty and mystery. The Royal Blue is a mystery tourbillon of incomparable elegance, combining aesthetics with the high art of mechanical watchmaking. This hand crafted work of art completes the Royal Blue Tourbillon collection. A highly-skilled precious stone cutter must cut each diamond and sapphire to perfection to fit the elaborate platinum case.

The case of a diameter of 43 mm, especially created for this exceptional timepiece, is set with 128 baguette diamonds and 57 blue sapphire baguettes which enhance the rounded shape of the case. The actual setting of the bracelet of 432 baguette diamonds (approx. 27.77 ct) and 176 blue sapphire baguettes ornament the complexity of the bracelet construction. The crown fitted with 8 baguette diamonds and 1 cabochon sapphire further emphasizes the delicacy of this true jewel.

A total of 568 baguette diamonds of the highest quality (approx. 33.8 ct, Top Wesselton) and 234 baguette cut royal blue sapphires (approx. 16.79 ct) in combination with the high art of watchmaking represent a delight for connoisseurs of fine timepieces. Bridges and main plates are crafted in blue sapphire, making the flying Tourbillon itself float in an empty space. The movement parts are skeletonized and aligned in perfect symmetry.

The winding system is invisible, further adding to the mystery. Despite the total transparency of this extraordinary movement (constructed along the principles of Le Locle's most famous watchmaker - James Pellaton) one wonders what holds the flying tourbillon, which is revolving weightlessly in its cage. The interior of the platinum bezel is set with diamonds and blue sapphires to read the time. When winding the movement a miraculous force is setting cogs and wheels in different places in motion, completing the mystery of the Royal Blue.

Limited Edition to 30 pieces. Platinum case. Water-resistant to 30 m.This Masterpiece is available as well with an alligator leather strap and a platinum folding buckle elegantly set with baguette diamonds and sapphire.

Technical details

• Model: Royal Blue Mystery Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie Watch

Movement

• Caliber UN-79,36 jewels, main plate and bridges in sapphire
• Power-Reserve: Approx. 100 h
• Winding: Manual winding
• Functions: Flying Tourbillon,Display of hours and minutes, winding of the movement through a circular rack mechanism

Case

• Platinum 950. Set with 80 baguettes diamonds (5.07 ct) and 45 blue sapphire of different baguette cut (9.19 ct),Inner bezel Set with 48 baguette diamonds (0.79 ct) and 12 baguette sapphires (0.23 ct)
• Diameter 43 mm
• Water-resistance: 30 m
• Crystal: Anti reflective sapphire crystal
• Case-back: Anti reflective sapphire crystal
• Crown: Water-resistant, set with 8 baguette diamonds (0.17 ct) and 1 cabochon blue sapphire (0.38 ct)

Band

• Alligator leather strap, with platinum folding buckle set with 16 diamonds (0.62ct) and 16 sapphires (0.55 ct)

Bracelet

• Exclusive platinum bracelet. Top of bracelet set with 432 baguette diamonds (27.77 ct) and side of bracelet set with 176 baguette sapphires (6.99 ct)

Model references

• Ref. 799-99BAG Platinum 950, with alligator strap and folding buckle
• Ref. 799-99BAG-8BAG Platinum 950, with platinum bracelet

Edition

• Limitation Limited edition of 30 pieces in Platinum 950