Ulysse Nardin Blast 45mm Titanium & Ceramic — White Dial | Ref. 1723-400-00

Ceramic arrived in serious watchmaking as a bezel material; Ulysse Nardin integrated it into the Blast case architecture itself, fusing it with titanium in a bi-material construction that exploits both materials' distinct properties. Titanium provides structural resilience and dimensional precision; ceramic contributes an absolute hardness of 1,200 Vickers — effectively impervious to the scratching that degrades conventional metal surfaces over years of active wear. The resulting 45 mm case reads simultaneously as industrial sculpture and precision instrument, its surfaces alternating between the warm satin finish of brushed titanium and the cool, high-polish registers of ceramic. At 13 mm thickness the watch commands the wrist assertively but without the heaviness of a purely steel construction.

The Calibre UN-172 self-winding movement delivers approximately 72 hours of power reserve, a specification that reflects the engineering investment Ulysse Nardin has made in the Blast's movement architecture. This three-day reserve accommodates the rotation patterns of even the most diverse collector's wardrobe, ensuring the watch remains wound and accurate regardless of how frequently it is worn. The white dial — a counterintuitive but aesthetically powerful choice against the dark titanium-and-ceramic case — creates a striking luminosity that differentiates this reference from its blue-dial sibling and speaks to the Blast's willingness to subvert expectations at every juncture. Against the dark case material the white dial appears to generate its own light.

Water resistance to 50 metres and a leather strap complete the specification — parameters that acknowledge the Blast's primary role as a haute horlogerie statement piece rather than an active sport instrument. The leather strap's supple texture provides a tactile counterpoint to the ceramic's near-indestructible hardness, a deliberate juxtaposition of the organic and the industrial that runs through every Blast design decision. At $41,635 this reference invites the collector to consider Ulysse Nardin not as a heritage brand resting on marine chronometer laurels but as one of Swiss watchmaking's most technically adventurous manufactures — a company founded in 1846 that is, in 2026, still asking questions about materials and architectures that others have not yet thought to pose.