Ulysse Nardin announced a new complicated moon phase timepiece, within their Blast collection. The new celestial timepiece houses a mechanical movement that has been totally re-invented in order to showcase the sun’s trajectory and the precise lunar cycles in a bold three-dimensional work of art for the wrist. Driven by automatic caliber UN-106m, the Blast Moonstruck displays the celestial mechanisms on the dial side for a graphic rendition and intuitive display with a rotating orb and center map of the Earth. The 335-part movement offers the days of the lunar month, tidal coefficients, positions of the sun and moon around the globe, a world timer, and dual time.
It features an elegant black ceramic and black DLC-treated titanium case with a dial that contains a bulbous 3D sapphire globe with micro-engraved landmasses. An 18-carat gold rose ring that is engraved with the 31 days of the month circles the dial’s inner globe, and the ring itself is surrounded by a number of rotating rings that track multiple timezones, along with containing apertures for the sun and moon.
The moon phase, though, is not set to our calendar’s 24-hour day, but instead, of the synodic rotation of 29 days, 12 hours, 41 minutes and 9.3 seconds. To ensure accuracy, the moon hides ever 24 hours via a special angling making it incredibly accurate in its depictions of the waxing and waning phases.
Ulysse Nardin’s caliber UN-106 is designed and produced in-house in Le Locle. The 4Hz automatic movement is constructed with 42 jewels, 335 total components, and has a 50-hour power reserve. Through the open caseback, you can view the ruthenium-coated bridges with circular Geneva stripes, perlage finish on the mainplate, and blued screws. A traversing balance bridge supports the free-sprung balance wheel and oscillating system. A 5N rose gold oscillating weight completes the attractive aesthetic.
The Blast Moonstruck is a limited edition and comes with a choice of black alligator, velvet, or rubber with a folding clasp made with black DLC titanium and pink gold. The depth rating is 30 meters. The retail price is approximately $81,000.
