We spent an enjoyable time with Felix (Baumgartner) and Martin (Frei), Co-Founders of URWERK hearing about their inspirations for their latest creation, the UR-100V Iron.
The UR-100V Iron is cased in steel and titanium, monochrome and unadorned, to highlight its most delicate finish — all done by hand. Form and finish together create an ever-changing perspective over polished, matt, sanded and shot-peened surfaces.
The main reason to fall in love with a watch is an emotional reaction to its looks. Beyond the complexity of its mechanism we have tried to refine this watch as much as possible. The UR-100V Iron appears in all its naked glory, leaving only the light reflecting on the metal to reveal its beauty.”
Martin Frei, Chief Designer & Co-Founder, URWERK
The inspiration for the new timepiece comes from a clock – that doesn’t actually tell the time – created by Gustave Sandoz which was exhibited at the Universal Exhibition of 1893. The ‘regulator’ dial showed the distance travelled by a point on the equator.
In addition to URWERK’s trademark satellite configuration of the wandering hours and minutes, the UR-100V Iron brings space into sharp focus. When the minute hand has completed its 60-minute journey, it reappears on a 20-minute scale of 555 kilometres. This is the distance you travel in 20 minutes if you are standing on the equator of our rotating planet. The opposite scale tracks your journey through space around the sun: 35,740km every 20 minutes.
This new movement enabled a redesign of the carousel, bringing the hours closer to the minutes as they travel in succession along the 60-minute scale. The result is an easier and more intuitive reading of the time”
Felix Baumgartner, Master Watchmaker & Co-Founder, URWERK
Technical Specifications: UR-100V Iron – Limited edition of 25
| Movement | |
| Calibre | Selfwinding UR 12.02 movement with the winding rotor governed by a Windfänger airscrew. |
| Jewels | 40 |
| Balance frequency | 28 800v/h – 4Hz |
| Power reserve | 48 hours |
| Materials | Satellite hours on beryllium-bronze Geneva crosses; aluminium carousel; carousel and triple baseplates in ARCAP alloy. |
| Finishes | Circular graining and sanding, shot peening; chamfered screw heads; hours and minutes painted in SuperLumiNova. |
| Indications | Satellite hours and minutes; rotational distance at the equator in 20 minutes; orbital distance in 20 minutes. |
| Case | |
| Materials | Titanium and stainless steel. |
| Dimensions | Width: 41mm, length: 49.7mm, height: 14mm |
| Glass | Sapphire crystal |
| Water resistance | Pressure tested at 3ATM (30m) |
| Strap | Blue Alacantra with a titanium buckle. |
| Price | CHF 48,000.00 (Swiss francs / tax not included) |
For more information please visit https://www.urwerk.com