With an overflowing imagination, URWERK amazes each year with timepieces isolated from other worlds and stories. Even if the watches are various re-edition, the independent brand keeps the Sci-Fi note strong by using new ideas or materials. So is the case of the URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition. This pure breed URWERK alien comes in a very intriguing but exceptional good looking 2N gold case keeping its astrophysical satellites displaying the hours and minutes in a miniature cosmic ballet.
My first encounter (digital) with the brand was during my university years. A very small group of people trying to discover the world of watches were searching frenetically the Internet for the most interesting watches. In 2003 we discovered a brand using a very unusual satellites system that reveals the time with disks gliding above a minutes’ track – the UR103. The watch was exposed directly from parallel worlds since for us/me, this kind of watch was like a beautiful dream, like an exceptional Sci-Fi book. We never hoped to see such a watch live. So I am very grateful that, years later, this magical world embraced me and I am able to share with you my own, personal experience with one of the latest URWERK watches, the UR-100 Gold Edition.
URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition
URWERK UR-100 line was launched in September 2019 with the UR-100 SpaceTime edition. This new watch brought the time (hours and minutes) and space (distance travelled) together in an original URWERK piece. The watch displayed the distance that our planet covers by the rotation around its own axis and the distance that it makes in its orbit arround the sun. UR-100 is a constant reminder of our place in space and time, a reminder of how small we are in comparison with Earth and the universe.
Spaceship case
Traditional is a word that in the URWERK world has another meaning. A very specific and very personal URWERK meaning. Regardless if you see it as a resemblance with the Millenium Falcon with the horns as front and the crown as an exhaust, or like a more classic starship with the crown as front porthole (or “windshield if you want) and the horns as double exhaust, the case of UR-100 is a classic URWERK case.
The case is manufactured in a very good looking 2N gold measuring 49.7mm in length and 41mm in width. Due to its smart lugs system, the URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition offers a very comfortable position on the wrist. Its construction makes it look good on a wide selection of wrist sizes. The case is finished with a matt brush, circular on top and horizontal on sides.
The crown manufactured in the case material bears the brand’s logo. The crown has relatively large dimensions but looks good and balanced with the rest of the case. It offers an excellent grip. Setting and winding offer a lot of fun. We can also note on the left side of the case a screwed plate with the limited edition number.
The caseback is fixed with URWERK proprietary screws. A sapphire crystal reveals the back of the Calibre UR 12.01. The watch is fitted with a leather strap with 2N pin Buckle with a brushed and sand-blasted finish. The name of the independent is engraved.
URWERK planetary time indication and some original additions
URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition displays under a highly domed sapphire crystal the brand’s planetary system. The complex system reveals three indications. At 10 o’clock, the watch reveals the distance in km that our planet travelled arround its axis.
The double indication is realised by a satellite on top and the hand via an aperture. The complication is noted with ⊕ ROTAT. for easy recognition. At 2 o’clock, the UR-100 displays the distance that Earth made in space, orbiting arround the sun.
Noted with ⊙⊕ REVOL., the engraving means the Earth ⊕ revoluting around the sun represented by the solar symbol ⊙. The indication style is identical, only the scale being corresponding, each indication having the km numbers engraved for reference.
The time indication is a URWERK traditional style (as mentioned, traditional has in the case of URWERK a brand’s personal note) – a planetary revolving system that displays the hour on the rotating disk and the minutes in a curved track. The system is fairly easy to use, even for people from the digital time display, not used to the classic 12 hours round time arrangement. To note that all the indications are highlighted in the dark by a strong SuperLuminova, making the watch in the night a true UFO.
Revealed, but hidden – Calibre UR 12.01
URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition is powered by the Calibre UR 12.01. While most of the technicalities are shown on the dial side in the form of the aluminium satellite hours on titanium Geneva crosses and Aluminium carousel, the back keeps the movement hidden behind the intriguing rotor weight – planetary turbine automatic system.
The watch beats at 4 Hz for 48 hours. It is nicely decorated with circular grain, sandblasting, micro-blasting, strapping, although most of the decorations are “hidden” behind the rotor weight. The functionality of the movement can be observed in the video below, courtesy of URWERK.
URWERK UR-100 exploded view
Final notes
UR-100 Gold Edition is an easy to wear URWERK watch (especially comparing to other larger pieces from this independent). As all the URWERK timepieces, the UR-100 is a daring invitation for space adventures.
The watch is comfortable on the wrist. It is a constant source of distractions since it is so interesting that you find yourself always studying. Of course, it is a watch that will make waves whenever on the wrist, being appreciated by connoisseurs or profanes as a pure curiosity. The UR-1oo represents another successful atempt ( not a good word since will imply the fact that the URWERK goes on a trial and error basis) step in bringing Sci-Fi wristwatches to the ones with a heart open for space adventures.
URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition Technical Specifications
Movement
- Calibre UR 12.01 with automatic winding system regulated by URWERK’s proprietary Windfänger system with helical and planetary gearing
- Jewels: 39
- Frequency 4 Hz / 28,800 vph
- Power reserve: 48 hours
- Materials: Aluminum satellite hours on titanium Geneva crosses
- Aluminium carousel
- Triple bridges in ARCAP
- Finishes: Circular grain, sandblasting, micro-blasting, strapping
- Chamfered screw heads
- Hour and minute index painted with Super-LumiNova
Case
- Satin-finished 18k 2N yellow gold
- Dimensions Width 41 mm; length: 49.7 mm; thickness: 14 mm
- Glass transparent sapphire crystal
- Water-resistance 30 meters (3 ATM/3 Bar)
Price
- CHF 58,000 excluding taxes
URWERK UR-100 Gold Edition Gallery
