The Ublast Orbital Plane Moon Phase (Ref. UBORPL42GDWH) is a men’s automatic watch that has been part of the Italian brand’s production since the 2020s, positioned in the accessible-to-mid-range segment of mechanical watches with a strong aesthetic focus. Its identity comes from the combination of a contemporary dress watch approach and a cosmic representation that transforms the lunar indication into the main visual feature of the dial.
It is therefore not a model built around the discretion typically associated with more traditional formal watchmaking. Earth, Moon, and Starry Sky dominate the composition and make the timepiece immediately recognizable, appealing primarily to those looking for an unconventional automatic watch with an explicit astronomical inspiration.
Its most distinctive feature remains the orbital system dedicated to the Moon: rather than confining the indication to a conventional aperture, it integrates it directly into the celestial scene. More than mechanical complexity in the strictest sense, it is this choice that defines the character of the watch.
Design
The dial represents the visual centerpiece of the entire design. Its blue central area creates a nocturnal scene in which the starry surface serves as a backdrop for the three-dimensional Earth and the representation of the Moon, creating multiple levels of depth. The result is deliberately theatrical and moves away from the graphic restraint normally associated with a dress watch.
The Earth occupies the lower part of the composition with intense blue tones and a texture that emphasizes its presence. The Moon, brighter and more luminous, creates a clear contrast with the surrounding sky. The use of mother-of-pearl adds surface variations that react to light and prevent the lunar element from appearing completely flat.
A light-colored ring surrounds the central scene and carries the applied Arabic numerals. Their warm tone complements the case and hands, while their peripheral arrangement leaves the center unobstructed for the astronomical display. The minute track remains visually subordinate, avoiding further clutter on an already elaborate dial.
The hands retain slender, classical shapes, a choice consistent with the elegant character of the overall design. The particularly thin seconds hand crosses the composition without significantly obscuring the elements beneath it.
The dark brown genuine leather strap plays an important role in balancing the exuberance of the dial. Its texture recalls alligator leather and introduces a more traditional register, while the brown tone creates a natural transition toward the rose-gold-colored surfaces. Overall, the aesthetic language sits halfway between a formal watch and a decorative interpretation of the cosmic theme: it does not seek neutrality, but recognizability.
Case & Construction
The case is made from 316L stainless steel with a rose-gold-colored IP treatment. Its 42 mm diameter and 12 mm thickness create a contemporary structure, while the lug-to-lug distance is estimated at approximately 50 mm. The lug width, at approximately 22 mm, should likewise be regarded as an estimate rather than an officially documented measurement.
The architecture uses separate, fairly pronounced lugs connected to the caseband through curved profiles. The fixed bezel remains relatively simple and allows the dial to retain its dominant role, while the side crown features a knurled finish that improves grip during adjustment.
The crystal is sapphire, an appropriate solution for a model in which visibility and protection of the elaborate dial surface are particularly important. The caseback also features a transparent opening through which the automatic movement can be viewed.
The stated water resistance is 50 meters, equivalent to 5 ATM. The construction is therefore consistent with a watch intended primarily for everyday and formal use, without an aquatic or sporting vocation.
Movement
The movement is a Japanese automatic mechanical caliber based on Citizen/Miyota architecture and modified to operate the distinctive lunar indication. The available documentation, however, does not identify the specific base caliber reference with sufficient certainty; arbitrarily assigning it a more precise Miyota designation would mean attributing unconfirmed technical characteristics to the model.
The power reserve is approximately 42 hours. This places its autonomy within conventional parameters for this type of mechanism and makes it suitable for everyday use, without representing one of the defining elements of the design.
By contrast, the oscillation frequency, jewel count, presence of hacking seconds, movement thickness, and specific rate-performance figures are not documented with sufficient precision. For the same reason, it would be incorrect to assign accuracy figures simply by deriving them from other Miyota calibers.
From a technical perspective, the genuinely distinctive aspect is therefore the modification required to operate the lunar display. The mechanical interest of the timepiece lies primarily in the integration of this indication with the underlying automatic architecture, rather than in the pursuit of chronometric performance or an in-house construction.
Functions & Complications
The fundamental functions comprise hours, minutes, and seconds, accompanied by automatic winding. Everyday interaction therefore remains straightforward and focuses the wearer’s attention on the complication that defines the dial.
The Moon completes a full 360° rotation over 31 days. The display should be interpreted with this specific operating logic in mind: its cycle does not correspond to the average synodic month of approximately 29.53 days used as the astronomical reference for traditional moon-phase indications.
The practical consequence is significant. The indication prioritizes the orbital representation and the visual integration of the Moon into the cosmic scene rather than pursuing a conventional reproduction of the lunar cycle through a disc calibrated to the synodic month. The term “Moon Phase” belongs to the model’s designation, but technically the system is more accurately understood as an orbital lunar display with a 31-day cycle.
The large size of the lunar element makes the indication immediately recognizable and, above all, prevents the complication from assuming the secondary role typical of small apertures. In this case, the astronomical function deliberately coincides with the aesthetic centerpiece of the watch.
Performance
On the wrist, the case has a pronounced presence for an elegantly styled model. The elongated lugs visually extend the profile across the wrist, while their curved ends guide the strap downward and make the overall construction feel less rigid than the frontal view suggests.
The leather strap gradually conforms to the wrist while keeping the weight concentrated in the watch head. The steel deployant clasp, finished to match the case, provides a more structured solution than a pin buckle and reduces repeated flexing of the leather during opening and closing.
The visual thickness remains controlled by the relatively slim bezel and the rounded profile of the case. Under a cuff, the timepiece therefore remains compatible with formal clothing, although its frontal presence is considerably more substantial than that of a traditional dress watch.
Legibility requires more attention than on an essential dial. The Arabic numerals and hands remain distinguishable, but Earth, Moon, and the starry decoration inevitably compete with the time display. This is not so much a functional flaw as a direct consequence of the design hierarchy: here, the spectacle of the display takes precedence over maximum immediacy of reading.
The result is particularly effective on a wrist that accommodates watches with a noticeable presence. On smaller wrists, however, the architecture appears visually dominant and loses some of the discretion normally associated with the dress category.
Technical Data
Brand: Ublast Watches;
Model: Ublast Orbital Plane Moon Phase (Ref. UBORPL42GDWH);
Year: 2020+;
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel – IP Rose-Gold Color;
Case Diameter: 42 mm;
Case Thickness: 12 mm;
Lug Width: ~22 mm;
Lug-to-Lug: ~50 mm.
Crystal: Sapphire;
Water Resistance: 50 m / 165 ft (5 ATM);
Power Reserve: ~42 hours;
Movement: Automatic Mechanical Watches – Citizen/Miyota-Based Caliber, modified for Moon Phase Display (Japanese Movement);
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Automatic Winding;
Complications: Moonphase Display (31-Day / 360° Full Rotation);
Bracelet / Strap: Genuine Leather Strap with 316L Stainless Steel Deployant Clasp – IP Rose-Gold Color;
Type: Classic Watches, Dress Watches, Fashion Watches, Moon Phase Watches, Mythology & Cosmos Watches;
Sex: Men’s Watches;
Nationality: Italian Watches.
Retail Price (Launch): €1,400 / $1,500.
The Ublast Orbital Plane Moon Phase builds almost its entire appeal around one clear idea: transforming the Moon indication from a small secondary complication into the protagonist of the entire dial. The combination of a three-dimensional Earth, starry sky, and mother-of-pearl lunar element gives it an identity that is difficult to confuse with that of a conventional automatic watch.
Its strengths include a construction based on 316L stainless steel and sapphire crystal, a Japanese automatic movement specifically modified for the display and, above all, a very strong aesthetic identity. The leather pairing also maintains a connection with the dress-watch world without neutralizing the cosmic theme.
Its limitations are equally tangible. The base caliber is not precisely identified, preventing a detailed assessment of several important mechanical parameters. The 31-day lunar cycle also does not correspond to the average synodic cycle, so if you are looking for a traditional astronomical complication, this difference deserves careful consideration. Finally, the proportions prioritize visual presence over the restraint of a classic formal watch.
Its launch price places it in a competitive segment, where value does not derive from the prestige of the caliber or any particular degree of chronometric refinement. Its economic justification lies primarily in the originality of the dial, the construction, and the unusual interpretation of the lunar theme.
The verdict is therefore that of a niche automatic watch that succeeds primarily as an astronomically themed design piece: it makes sense for the enthusiast who considers visual personality and the orbital representation to be priorities, while it is less compelling if, within the same price range, you place greater importance on transparency regarding caliber specifications or the astronomical accuracy of a traditional moon phase.
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