URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture III: A Dialogue Between Time, Art, and Spiritual Heritage

The URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture III can be seen as a horological artefact that bridges millennia, blending the avant-garde language of independent Swiss watchmaking with the spiritual and artistic heritage of Georgia. Conceived as a unique piece, this creation is the result of a remarkable collaboration between URWERK and the David Kakabadze studio in Tbilisi. Through the Time and Culture series, URWERK explores the transcription of time across civilisations, each edition delving into the symbolism and cosmology of a different culture. Time and Culture III turns its gaze towards the Georgian Orthodox tradition, drawing inspiration from the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, an enduring emblem of faith and artistry in the Caucasus.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Roots of Georgian Orthodox Identity

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, literally the “Cathedral of the Living Pillar,” stands in the ancient town of Mtskheta, near Tbilisi. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is not only an architectural masterpiece of the early and high Middle Ages but also a spiritual epicentre for the Georgian Orthodox Church. The cathedral’s history is entwined with the Christianisation of Georgia in the 4th century, a pivotal event that reoriented the region from Zoroastrian and Sasanian influences towards the Romano-Byzantine world.

The cathedral is revered as the burial site of Christ’s mantle, a relic believed to have been brought to Georgia by Elias after witnessing the Crucifixion. According to legend, Sidonia, his sister, was so overcome with emotion upon touching the robe that she died clutching it, and a cedar tree grew from her grave. King Mirian III, after his conversion, ordered the first church to be built on this site, marking the dawn of Christianity in Georgia.

Svetitskhoveli’s architectural grandeur, with its 54-metre height, intricate stone carvings, and frescoes, reflects the skills of medieval Georgian builders. The cathedral has been the site of royal coronations, burials of monarchs, and major religious celebrations, notably the annual Svetitskhovloba festival commemorating the acquisition of Christ’s robe.

The Georgian Orthodox Church, with over three million adherents, is central to the nation’s identity. Its resilience through invasions, Soviet repression, and modern transformations underscores its role as a guardian of cultural and spiritual continuity. The Church’s influence extends to social and political spheres, and its leader, Patriarch Ilia II, is among the most respected figures in Georgia.

Fun fact: Georgia is also the cradle of wine. Archaeological evidence shows that Georgians have been making wine for over 8,000 years, with qvevri (large clay amphorae) used for fermentation and storage—a tradition recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. Grapevine motifs are omnipresent in Georgian art and architecture, including the decorations of Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, symbolising the inseparability of wine and national identity.

URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture III: Dial, Case, and Artistic Craft

The UR-100V Time and Culture III is a singular piece, its case sculpted from yellow gold and transformed into a miniature cloisonné enamel masterpiece. The dial is an extraordinary tableau, inspired by a fragment of the zodiac frescoes within Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. The central motif presents Christ surrounded by twelve celestial symbols, referencing the twelve months, hours, and constellations – an artistic meditation on cyclical time and sacred cosmology.

The cloisonné enamelwork is a feat of artisanal dedication: 1,152 days of labour, 19 distinct enamels, and 16 kiln firings at 750°C were required to achieve the depth and vibrancy of the miniature painting. Every curve and hue is a testament to the Kakabadze atelier’s mastery, with each step reflecting centuries-old techniques passed down through generations.

The case, measuring 41 mm in diameter, is both a protective vessel and a frame for the dial’s artistry. The sapphire crystal ensures clarity, while the gold case exudes warmth and gravitas, echoing the cathedral’s own golden stones. The rear of the watch, in keeping with URWERK’s ethos, is exceptionally finished and ergonomically contoured for comfort.

Calibre UR 12.01 and the Wandering Hour Satellite System

Beneath this artistic façade lies the Calibre UR 12.01, an automatic movement developed and finished to the highest standards of contemporary haute horlogerie. The movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, delivering a power reserve of 48 hours.

Supplementary indications, a hallmark of the UR-100V series, are absent in this unique piece, allowing the dial’s artistic narrative to take precedence. In other UR-100V models, these indications track the distance travelled by the Earth’s rotation and revolution, merging chronometry with astronomical awareness.

The movement’s architecture is defined by its three-armed carousel, each arm supporting satellites with four hour indications. The carousel and satellites are fabricated from lightweight aluminium, mounted on Geneva crosses crafted from beryllium bronze for optimal durability and precision.

The carousel rotates, positioning the correct hour satellite along a minute track. As the satellite traverses the arc, it indicates the minutes past the hour. At the end of the hour, the next satellite takes its place, ensuring a seamless, continuous display.

The automatic winding system is regulated by URWERK’s proprietary Windfänger, a turbine-based mechanism that optimises winding efficiency while protecting the movement from shocks and overwinding.

The finishing is nothing less than exceptional Haute Horlogerie: circular graining, sandblasting, microblasting, and circular satin finishing are applied throughout, with chamfered screw heads and hand-finished surfaces visible through the sapphire caseback.

Time, Faith, and the Human Condition

The UR-100V Time and Culture III is a horological meditation on the intersection of time, faith, and human creativity. By drawing on the spiritual and artistic legacy of Georgia, embodied in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the enduring influence of the Orthodox Church, URWERK has created a timepiece that is both a mechanical marvel and a cultural artefact. The watch is a reminder that time is not a simple sequence of hours and minutes, but a continuum shaped by belief, ritual, and the search for meaning.

In an era where the measurement of time is ubiquitous and instantaneous, the UR-100V Time and Culture III invites its wearer to contemplate the deeper rhythms of existence: the cycles of nature, the persistence of tradition, and the eternal dialogue between the sacred and the temporal. It is a unique fusion of art, engineering, and spirituality, a radiant glimpse of eternity, encapsulated on the wrist.

URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture III Technical Specifications

Indications

• Satellite hours; minutes.

Movement

• Calibre: Jewels Self-winding UR 12.02 movement governed by a Windfänger airscrew
• Jewels: 0
• Frequency: 28,800 v/h 4Hz
• Power reserve: 48 hours
• Materials:
  • Aluminium satellite hours on beryllium-bronze Geneva crosses; aluminium carousel; carousel and triple baseplates in ARCAP alloy.
  • Finishing: Circular satin brushing, sand-blasting, shot-blasting, circular satin finishing, circular graining
  • Polished screw heads
  • Hours and minutes painted in Super-LumiNova
  • Dome beneath the sapphire crafted in cloisonné enamelled 24-carat gold.

Case

• Material: 2N 18K yellow gold.
• Dimensions: Width: 41 mm, length: 49.70 mm, thickness: 14 mm
• Glass: Sapphire crystal
• Water resistance: Pressure-tested at 3ATM (30m)

Strap

• Alcantara and leather, 2N 18K yellow gold pin buckle