Tap the image to enlarge
Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon 45mm Mens Watch Black
Ref. 1723-400-3A/BLACK
Sits in Ulysse Nardin’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Ulysse Nardin watches we list, which start at £6,550.
Price range £6,550 to £62,790 across 20 Ulysse Nardin watches in stock.The 45mm case combines sandblasted black titanium and black ceramic, measuring 13mm thick and wearing on a black rubber strap with a self-deploying folding clasp. Sapphire crystal covers both the front and the case back. The skeletonised dial is structured around an X-shaped cage, leaving the calibre UN-172 movement fully visible from the front. A flying tourbillon sits at 6 o'clock, while a platinum micro-rotor at 12 o'clock winds the movement automatically. Luminous baton indexes mark the hours, the silicon escapement aids anti-magnetic performance, and the movement delivers a 72-hour power reserve.
- Reference
- 1723-400-3A/BLACK
- Brand
- Ulysse Nardin
- Case size
- 45mm
- Case thickness
- 13mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- UN-172
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 72 hours
Learn more about Ulysse Nardin
Leonard Ulysse Nardin founded his workshop in Le Locle in 1846 and specialised in marine chronometers — the instruments ships used to determine longitude, where an error of seconds meant an error of miles.
The house became one of the two or three most important chronometer makers in the world. More than fifty navies used Ulysse Nardin instruments, and the company holds an extraordinary record at observatory trials: over four thousand certificates and dozens of gold medals, more precision awards than any other manufacturer.
Its modern era began in 1983 when Rolf Schnyder bought the failing company and partnered with Ludwig Oechslin, a scientist and horological historian. The results were the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei of 1985, which displays the positions of sun, moon, and stars and entered the Guinness records as the most functional wristwatch, followed by the Planetarium and Tellurium — together the Trilogy of Time.
Oechslin also designed the Freak of 2001, arguably the most radical wristwatch of the modern era: no dial, no hands, no crown. The entire movement rotates to indicate the time, and it was the first watch to use silicon components in the escapement, a material now standard across the industry.
The Marine collection continues the chronometer heritage. Kering acquired the brand in 2014.
- 1846
- Leonard Ulysse Nardin founds the workshop in Le Locle.
- 1985
- The Astrolabium Galileo Galilei is released.
- 2001
- The Freak pioneers silicon escapement components.
- 2014
- Acquired by Kering.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,434), Automatic Watches (1,540), Watches 44mm and Over (735), All Black Watches (286) and Titanium Watches (150).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 72-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- One of Ulysse Nardin's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
- 45mm is a large watch with real presence
Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 1723-400-3A/BLACK | 86000-52-001-BB6A | pfc931-2020001-400182 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £48,410 | £43,800 | £49,200 |
| Case size | 45mm | 45mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 30m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Leather strap | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 48 hours | 65 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 72 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
More Ulysse Nardin watches like the Blast Tourbillon
In stock, and close on style and price
