Ulysse Nardin Launches the Blast Moonstruck with Five Astronomical Displays
A wrist-worn planetarium
More than four decades ago, Ulysse Nardin embarked on a remarkable journey that would redefine astronomical watchmaking. In collaboration with watchmaker, astronomer, and mathematician Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, the manufacture introduced the groundbreaking Trilogy of Time: Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, Planetarium Copernicus, and Tellurium Johannes Kepler. These three mechanical masterpieces translated complex celestial calculations into surprisingly intuitive displays.
In 2009, that legacy continued with the first Moonstruck. Now, Ulysse Nardin presents its most advanced interpretation yet in the Blast Moonstruck. Housed in the bold architecture of the Blast collection, the new limited edition combines the brand’s rich astronomical heritage with contemporary design, offering a mechanical representation of the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and Moon that can be understood at a glance.
Blast Moonstruck
Ulysse Nardin
A Miniature Model of the Cosmos
The Blast Moonstruck is built around one of Ludwig Oechslin’s guiding principles: complexity belongs inside the movement, not on the dial. Rather than displaying separate complications, the watch presents a complete astronomical system in which every indication is interconnected.
At the center of the display sits a three-dimensional representation of the Northern Hemisphere, engraved on the underside of a domed sapphire crystal and seemingly suspended above the dial. Around it, the apparent movement of the Sun and the real-time orbit of the Moon recreate celestial mechanics as they are observed from Earth. Five astronomical indications are integrated into the display: a high-precision moonphase, the days of the lunar month, tidal coefficients, a worldtimer with day-and-night indication, and the positions of the Sun and Moon around the globe. Instead of functioning independently, these displays interact as part of a single mechanical model, allowing the wearer to visualize the relationship between the celestial bodies while simultaneously reading local and world time.
Blast Moonstruck
Ulysse Nardin
Blast Moonstruck
Ulysse Nardin
A High-Precision Moonphase
The Moon follows its own orbital path around the globe while displaying both the lunar cycle and the progression of the lunar month. Its high-precision moonphase requires correction by just one day every 40.3 years.
One of the watch’s most distinctive features is the realistic orientation of the Moon itself. Rather than relying on a conventional moonphase aperture, the illuminated portion of the Moon always faces the Sun, faithfully reproducing the actual geometry of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. The same relationship between the celestial bodies also drives the tidal coefficient indication, visualizing the varying strength of the tides and underscoring Ulysse Nardin’s historic connection to marine navigation.
The UN-106 Manufacture Caliber
Behind this mechanical spectacle is the manufacture caliber UN-106, an automatic movement comprising 338 components and 42 jewels. Operating at 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, it delivers a 50-hour power reserve and integrates the worldtimer and all astronomical indications within a single mechanical architecture.
The movement incorporates a silicon escapement and silicon hairspring, technologies pioneered by Ulysse Nardin more than two decades ago with the Freak. Local time can be adjusted forward or backward in one-hour increments using pushers integrated into the case without affecting the astronomical indications or interrupting the movement’s complex celestial calculations.
Blast Architecture Meets Celestial Watchmaking
The astronomical display is housed in a 45mm case that pairs an 18-karat rose-gold upper section with a black DLC-coated titanium middle case and bezel. The combination of satin-brushed, polished, and laser-finished surfaces emphasizes the angular architecture of the Blast collection while creating a striking contrast between precious metal and high-tech materials.
Produced in a limited edition of just 20 pieces, the Blast Moonstruck represents the latest chapter in Ulysse Nardin’s long tradition of astronomical watchmaking. It transforms exceptionally complex celestial mechanics into one of the most intuitive and visually captivating displays in contemporary haute horlogerie.
The Ulysse Nardin Blast Moonstruck comes fitted with a black alligator strap and is priced at $116,000.
