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Ulysse Nardin Blast Dual Time 42mm 18ct Rose Gold Case
Ref. 242-20/43
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Stepping up in Ulysse Nardin's range
The Blast collection was Ulysse Nardin's answer to the question of what a serious travel complication looks like when a manufacture stops compromising on case presence. The UN-24 calibre at its heart is built on an ETA 2892 base, but the GMT module above it is Ulysse Nardin's own patented work — and the practical payoff is a second time zone you can read at a glance from the home-time window at nine o'clock, with local time correctable forward or backward through pushers on the left flank without disturbing the running movement. At 10.05mm, this sits flat enough for a rose gold dual-time to wear less heavily than its complication count might suggest. The blue sunray-brushed dial picks up light differently depending on angle, and the Roman numerals and applied indexes give it a legibility that fares better under restaurant lighting than many a purely decorative dial at this tier. The big date at two o'clock is a genuine convenience rather than a flourish — a complication that earns its space every time the month turns. The exhibition caseback lets the movement make its own case for the finishing, and the matching rose gold buckle on the blue alligator strap keeps the whole thing coherent in a way that might easily have been an afterthought.
- Reference
- 242-20/43
- Brand
- Ulysse Nardin
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 10.05mm
- Case material
- Rose gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2892
- Functions
- GMT, Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Blue
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
- Gem set
- Yes
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 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,007), Automatic Watches (1,417), Leather Strap Watches (904), Blue Dial Watches (780), GMT Watches (208) and Solid Gold Watches (113).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Ulysse Nardin Blast Dual Time alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 242-20/43 | 1-36-12-03-02-71 | G0A41006 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £19,200 | £21,400 | £18,100 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 100 hours | 50 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
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 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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