One of the things I’ve been meaning to do more of here on The Horophile is review ladies’ watches. Not just any ol’ diamond-encrusted watch, I’m more on the lookout for watches that are as mechanically interesting as they are shiny and sparkling; lord knows there’s more than a few out there. So what better way to start than go all-out with the Ulysse Nardin Royal Ruby Tourbillon?

The Royal Ruby is certainly not a new concept, as Ulysse Nardin have already done a blue version, the Royal Blue Tourbillon several years back (Ariel Adams did a review on the Million Dollar version here). But where the Royal Blue was perhaps too masculine with the brand’s favorite maritime color, the Royal Ruby Tourbillon doesn’t get any girlier; and I mean that in a good way.

The first thing you will have undoubtedly noticed is the open movement with its massive translucent deep-pink bridges. Instead of more traditional brass or the occasional precious metal movement plates and bridges, the Royal Ruby Tourbillon uses several transparent and pink sapphire bridges. The upper part of the movement with the mainspring and gear train are partly concealed under pink sapphire bridges, while the lower portion with tourbillon cage is and the movement plate itself is done in transparent sapphire. The rehaut is set with brilliant-cut diamonds and rubies, where the latter serve as the hour markers for the centrally mounted hands.

Besides the flying tourbillon, which is wet with a dazzling octagonal ruby, the winding mechanism is quite fascinating. Turning the crown causes the peripheral wheel (you can see the teeth on the edges of the dial) to rotate and consequently turn the barrel to wind the mainspring. The barrel is able to deliver a power reserve of 100 hours, and one can even use the visible mainspring as a power reserve indicator.

The 41mm round case is made from solid 950 Platinum, with the bezel and lugs set with white brilliant-cut diamonds. Definitely a massive, hefty watch on a lady’s wrist, but that’s not to say that it can’t be pulled off. To add that final touch of femininity, the watch sits on a glossy white alligator strap.

The Royal Ruby Tourbillon comes with a price tag of $310’000 and is limited to total of 99 pieces in several gem-setting variations.

More information on www.ulysse-nardin.com