Bianchet Releases UT01, Its First Automatic Flying Tourbillon
Bianchet introduced calibre UT01 in February 2025 inside the B 1.618 UltraFino, an 8.9 mm titanium tonneau sports watch. UT01 is the independent brand’s first automatic movement and its first flying-tourbillon construction designed for an ultra-thin case. According to WatchPro, the calibre is 3.85 mm thick, weighs 8 grams, and is built in titanium with a gold rotor shaped around Fibonacci spirals.
Movement Layout
Monochrome Watches listed a one-minute flying tourbillon beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), 29 jewels, and a 60-hour power reserve from an openworked suspended barrel. Architecture places the barrel and tourbillon symmetrically, with the gear train on one side and the keyless works on the other. Finishing includes sandblasted titanium bridges, hand-polished bevels, and a sculpted tourbillon cage. Small seconds sit on the tourbillon. The UltraFino is the first Bianchet with a closed “golden diamond” dial as well as a skeleton version that leaves UT01 fully visible.
The host case is 40 mm wide, 47.39 mm long, and 8.9 mm thick, with 1.2 mm of curvature. Grade 5 titanium is combined with a vulcanised-rubber seam between bezel and case middle. Shock testing is quoted at 5,000 G and water resistance at 50 metres (5 ATM). An integrated titanium bracelet is offered alongside an integrated rubber strap, both using a titanium folding buckle with a rear release for strap swaps. List prices, excluding tax, were CHF 55,500 for the closed-dial model and CHF 60,500 for the skeleton, according to both WatchPro and Monochrome.
UT01 Figures
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Calibre | UT01 automatic flying tourbillon |
| Height / mass | 3.85 mm / 8 g (titanium) |
| Frequency | 21,600 vph (3 Hz) |
| Power reserve | 60 hours |
| Jewels | 29 |
| Display | Hours, minutes, tourbillon seconds |
| Case | 40 × 47.39 × 8.9 mm, 50 m |
| Price (ex-tax) | CHF 55,500 dial / CHF 60,500 skeleton |
What Followed the Launch
UT01 did not stay in a single metal. Monochrome later covered an UltraFino Carbon (March 2025), an UltraFino Sapphire (August 2025), a Maserati-limited UltraFino (April 2026), and full-ceramic UltraFino Tonneau versions (August 2026). The calibre, rather than a new display, remained the constant. For readers comparing reserve length and strap versus bracelet setups on more common sports watches, see how power reserve is calculated and rubber versus metal bracelets.
- February 2025: UT01 debuts in titanium UltraFino, first Bianchet automatic and first metal bracelet.
- 3 Hz flying tourbillon in a 3.85 mm automatic stack; 60-hour barrel.
- 2025–2026: carbon, sapphire, Maserati, and ceramic UltraFino variants reuse the same movement family.
Bianchet, founded by Rodolfo and Emmanuelle Festa-Bianchet in La Chaux-de-Fonds, had previously issued hand-wound openworked tourbillons in larger tonneau cases. UltraFino is the first of those cases cut thin enough for a dress-sports brief while keeping a flying cage and adding automatic winding. The 3 Hz rate is slower than the 4 Hz GP4800 and LFT MA01.01 released the same season; the extra millimetres of height are spent on the tourbillon rather than a faster balance.
FAQ
Is UT01 Bianchet’s first tourbillon?
No. Earlier B 1.618 models already used openworked flying tourbillons. UT01 is the first automatic and the first built to 3.85 mm for an 8.9 mm case.
Why quote 5,000 G on an ultra-thin watch?
The brand publishes that shock figure alongside 50 m water resistance to position UltraFino as a sports watch rather than a dress-only ultra-thin. Independent lab reports were not attached to the launch coverage.
Does the closed dial still show the tourbillon?
The solid “golden diamond” dial covers most of the bridges; the flying cage remains the visible complication. The skeleton SKU removes that cover.
According to WatchPro (26 February 2025) and Monochrome Watches (26 February 2025; follow-up coverage 2025–2026).