ReviewThe Future Is Calling: Urwerk UR-102 Reloaded
The latest Urwerk UR-102 Reloaded has a slightly tweaked design while retaining its enigmatic aura
May We Recommend
If the smooth, round exterior of an Urwerk watch reminds you of those flat pebbles you’d scour for a game of ‘stone skipping’ to disrupt a relatively calm water body with tiny ripples, then you are in a “galaxy far, far away” from the truth. These minimalist watches were created by co-founders and Star Wars geeks Felix Baumgartner, a third-generation watchmaker whose first words were ‘tick tock’, and Martin Frei, a graphic designer with degrees from School of Visual Arts of Zurich and Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst. The duo not only reimagined their first line of watches UR-101 and UR-102—launched at Baselworld 1997—after Hans Solo’s Millennium Falcon, but continued creating subsequent models Stormtrooper-inspired EMC TimeHunter and droid C-3PO UR-100 gold version. Despite the unique technical innovation, the brand seamlessly integrated itself into the horological sphere, and secured their entry into the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants).
The UR-102, however, is perceived to be Urwerk’s ‘foundation watch’, setting its futuristic tone in stone. Making its debut around the Watches and Wonders 2023, is the new UR-102 ‘Reloaded’ model, still thriving on the outer space theme, but instead of Sci-Fi films, draws inspiration from an actual Sputnik satellite.
‘Reloaded’ Avatar
The Urwerk UR-102 Reloaded is available as a set of two—titanium and black PVD—and overall, a limited edition of 25 sets. Both models have sandblasted titanium cases with steel casebacks: one retains the original hue of the metal, while the other is coated in black PVD. Their automatic base movement offers a 48-hour power reserve at 28,600vph.
The older UR-102 models are ‘Gaïa’ (launched at Only Watch 2021) and ‘TimeforArt’ (in collaboration with Cooper Jacoby) whose temperature-reactive display changes hues throughout the day. The latest UR-102 model has some subtle design changes. The case size has gone from 38mm to 41mm, the retractable crown now sits partially hidden at 4 o’clock instead of its previous position at 3 o’clock, and the lugs have become taller, angular like the earlier models of the Sputnik space satellite. Even the signature semicircular aperture extends further down both sides to allow more display space for viewing the time.
Crescent View
Urwerk is an example of an unassuming trend that quietly upends your fixed way of doing things to introduce a quicker, even stylish option. So, who needs to view time in a circular orbital path when you can get the same results halfway? UR-102 continues this semicircular display trend by retaining certain features like the flaming blue tint from the original UR-102 watch in their new titanium version.
Though the metal has changed from anodised aluminum to titanium in the ‘Reloaded’ version, the minutes track has the same blue hue and satin brushed finish. Further, the semicircular track follows the trajectory of a space satellite, as the timekeeping in the watch rises like a crescendo arc, going from minute 0 to 30 and then returns during its fall to the 60-mark.
Time Silently Ticks By
This brings us to another inbuilt feature, ‘wandering hours’. “Right the very beginning, we had the deep and intimate conviction that focusing on the wandering hour was our path” the official Urwerk website carries this quote by Frei.
Baumgartner created the ‘Wandering-hours’ concept after getting inspired by a 17th-century clock by the Campani brothers—the Pope’s official clockmakers—in his watchmaker father’s workshop. This clock did not make the ‘tick tock’ sound as the brothers had created a silent type of escapement, which allowed the Pope to sleep uninterrupted.
Both the raw titanium and black PVD UR-102 models have textured rubber straps with Baltimora fabric ending in pin buckles.
