Round-UpTen Questions You Might Have About Urwerk—Answered

1. What is Urwerk?

Urwerk is a watchmaker best known for its unconventional timepieces and can be categorised as ‘nouvelle horlogerie’. A signature of the brand is to present a creative display of time, usually, in a ‘satellite’ format, which is fit into an even more creative case. The name Urwerk might pop up while discussing brands such as MB&F, HYT, and even Harry Winston. Often seen as a non-conformer of the conservative norms of Swiss watchmaking, it has gained immense respect and admiration from the horological sphere. The goal of the brand is to design and craft haute horlogerie timepieces blending tradition with a futuristic vision.

2. What’s their origin story?

The brand was founded by two people who shared a fierce passion for watchmaking—Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei. Felix was born into a master watchmaker’s family and learnt the craft in his father’s own atelier. He went on to enrol in a prestigious watchmaking school in Solothurn and was awarded his diploma in 1995. Fresh out of college, Felix met Martin, a graphic design graduate from the Zurich School of Visual Arts, at a party where they discussed time and space at length and exchanged ideas of concepts. This was later transformed into a partnership called Urwerk.

3. Does the name mean something?

Yes! ‘Ur’ was an ancient Mesopotamian city, where, for the first time in history, time was measured, some 6,000 years ago. Ur is also the city responsible for dividing time units into 60 parts—a concept that would lead to our usage of 60-second minutes and 60-minute hours. The word ‘werk’ in German means ‘work’ in the context of creation and evolution.

4. Their watches look pretty wild. How do they come up with such designs?

You can thank Martin Frei for that. As an outsider in the world of horology, Frei’s art school influence came into its own as he realised that a wristwatch can be philosophical and sculptural while also being functional. Urwerk’s eccentric and futuristic designs can be zeroed-in to Frei’s affinity towards science fiction and films such as Star Wars. The technical conundrum of ‘is this even possible?’ is something that master watchmaker Baumgartner takes care of. Together, they work in tandem, bouncing ideas off of each other and surprising each other with every single creation. The brand’s aesthetic can also find its roots in steampunk, art deco, astronomy and futurism.

As an outsider in the world of horology, Frei’s art school influence came into its own as he realised that a wristwatch can be philosophical and sculptural while also being functional

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Urwerk’s eccentric and futuristic designs can be zeroed-in to Frei’s affinity towards science fiction and films such as 'Star Wars,' and its influence is clear as day on this UR-105 M

₹54,90,000

Check Our Selling Price

Click here to find out more about these design inspirations that even other brands draw from

5. How does one actually read the time on their watches?

It’s actually not that difficult read the time on an Urwerk. I’d go as far as to say that reading the time is more intuitive on the UR-210, which we’ll take as an example here, than on a regular three-hand watch. The UR-210 is the model that best embodies their satellite format for displaying the time. A cube featuring four hours engraved on four of its sides flies above a 0-to-60 scale indicating the minutes. The number that shows up on the cube on that scale is the current hour, and the point at where it meets the scale indicates the minute. This intuitive-yet-unique idiosyncrasy defines the brand and its effects can be observed on all their watches.

See more such unusual displays of time here

6. Are they made in Switzerland?

Yes, Urwerk’s timepieces are made in Switzerland. The parts of the watch are made in Zurich, while the technical research and prototyping are done in the town of Aarau, also in Switzerland. The head office sits in Geneva along with the facility for the final assembling of the timepieces.

7. What makes them so expensive?

Let us answer this question with another question. What do you get when you combine haute horlogerie with cutting-edge materials, all displayed through an eccentric display of time in an unusual case, with each piece taking so long to create that only 150 pieces are made in a year? Yep, you guessed it—an expensive watch.

8. What about their movements? Are they made in-house?

Nearly all Urwerk watches have base movements made by Zenith and Girard-Perregaux, with additional modules developed in-house to create the unusual displays. The movements are heavily reworked and the finishing they receive is exquisite.

Nearly all Urwerk watches have base movements made by Zenith and Girard-Perregaux, with additional modules developed in-house to create the unusual displays

The movements are heavily reworked and the finishing they receive is exquisite, as seen on the back of the UR-100V T-Rex

9. Is Urwerk an independent brand?

Yes, Urwerk prides itself on being completely independent, which means they are not a part of any luxury conglomerate of brands.

10. What’s is Urwerk’s significance in the world of fine watchmaking?

Urwerk has one of the most original voices when it comes to watchmaking. Shortly after the birth of the brand, scores of other watchmakers hopped onto the bandwagon of indicating time in three dimensions. Since the brand’s inception in 1997, it has influenced a new generation of watchmakers that don’t feel the need to conform to existing norms and are free to do their own thing. So in that sense, the brand’s significance is immeasurable and its effect has been seismic.

For a more in-depth look at the brand and its watches, click here

Are there any other brands that you have such questions about? Do share your thoughts in the comments below