URWERK UR-203 Face

Cam, transporters, telescopic hands, black platinum; for those already familiar with URWERK’s creations, these words are the precursors to a shot of adrenaline. And with reason, the URWERK team, remaining loyal to their über-futuristic creed, have returned with more robotic hour indications. Robotics? Judge the dial for yourself, the UR-203 reveals its micro-mechanics for all to see. The mesmerizing theatre unfolds both on stage and in the corridors. Pistons are actuated to indicate the hour and wheels turn in their wake. Time is translated into a metallic choreography of sublime fluidity.

The satellite complication is the nerve center of the UR-203, crafted from ARCAP P40, a stable non-ferrous and non-magnetic alloy. The intricate structure is milled with micron-precision and then CNC machined to reveal the internal clockwork. Within the UR-203 the cams, the rubies and the transporters that ensure the ultra-precise alignment of the telescopic hands indicating the minutes, are all revealed.

The precision of manufacture is incredibly demanding, e.g. the thickness of each transporter is down to 1/1000th of a millimeter, 0.895mm to be precise, to allow for an ultra-fine 0.005mm lubricating layer of MOVIC.

“This UR-203 is a wild idea of Martin Frei (URWERK co-founder and designer)”, explains Felix Baumgartner, URWERK co-founder and master watchmaker. “Martin imagined a stripped down model distilled to its pure essence. We had to start again at the beginning to develop this model, we sat down at the drawing board and completely reconsidered the satellite module.

URWERK UR-203 Detail

The horological challenge with this complication was to develop a complex mechanism with the minimum of components to ensure its reliability and longevity.” The carousel, hour satellites, telescopic minute hands and dial weigh 65% less than the proceeding model (UR-202). The satellite complication now tips the scales at a feather-light 3.57 grams.

The telescopic minute hands precisely adjust their length to follow the three vectors marking the minutes: 0 -14; 15 – 44; 45 – 60. Extended, they enable the UR-203 to display the time across a large easy-to-read, dial. Retracted, they allow for a smaller, comfortably sized case providing the wearer with the best of both worlds.

An «Oil Change» indicator and a «Horological Odometer» spanning 150 years complete the open dial, both original URWERK developments. The «Oil Change» indicator informs the wearer when a service is due; an operation recommended every three years of movement operation. Similar to the odometer of a car, the UR-203’s «Horological Odometer» keeps track of the total number of years of operation of the movement.

The UR-203 is also equipped with an innovative automatic winding system that is regulated by URWERK’s double turbine system. The turbines are mounted on rubies and are controlled by a three-position lever offering the choice of « FREE », « SPORT » or « STOP ». The position determines the force available from the automatic rotor to wind the mainspring. FREE, where the turbines spin freely; SPORT, where the air pressure generated by the turbines reduces the winding rate by approximately 35%; and STOP, where the turbines and rotor are fully blocked. The speed of the turbines can reach a maximum 16,500 RPM.

URWERK UR-203 Explications

Technical Specifications

Model:
UR-203 – Edition spéciale of 20 pieces

Case:
black PE-CVD coated platinum; case micro-sanded; titanium back plate

Movement:
calibre UR 7.03 ; mechanical automatic winding movement regulated by double turbines; 39 jewels

Functions:
satellite complication; telescopic minute hands

Dimensions:
45.7mm X 43.5mm X 15mm.

Dial:
ARCAP P40.

Indications:
hours by satellites, minutes by telescopic hands, Oil Change, 150 year Horological Odometer

URWERK UR-CC1

Time is usually – nearly always – displayed by a circular indication: one dial and two (or three) with the time displayed around a perpetual circle. However, this 360° representation of time goes against everything we learned as we grew up drawing a straight line on a blank page and marking it Past, Present and Future. Why do we think of time as traveling in a straight line yet display it rotating around a circle? The answer is straightforward: mechanisms that continually rotate are much simpler to produce than those that trace a straight line then return to zero. In fact, the latter is so difficult that, until now, nobody has ever managed to develop a production wristwatch with true retrograde linear displays.

Linear. On the UR-CC1, there are two horizontal indications displayed by two retrograde cylinders: one for the (jumping) hours, the other for the minutes. And don’t be lulled by the apparent simplicity of the displays; the UR-CC1 is the result of more than three years of research, development, production and testing to ensure that the rotation and instant fly-back of the large hour and minute cylinders was achieved without compromising accurate timekeeping.

Triple-cam. A vertical triple-cam operating a rack (visible through a window in the side of the case) rotates the minute cylinder. From zero to 60 minutes, the minute cylinder rotates through 300°. On arriving at the 60-minute mark the cylinder instantly (1/10th of a second) reverses back to its original position thanks to an extra-flat linear spring. The retrograde movement of the minute cylinder triggers the hour cylinder to advance (jump) one complete hour.

The triple-cam is crafted from bronze beryllium, a metal selected for its inherently self-lubricating properties and low co-efficient of friction, and takes the form of three small inclines. The precise shape of the curve of the incline is relayed to the pivoting rack, while the teeth on the end of the rack mesh with and rotate the minute cylinder. The triple-cam makes a complete rotation in three hours so that each of the three inclines takes 60 minutes, and 180 points of reference have been calculated on each of the three cams to ensure the precise and isochronic rotation of the minute cylinder.

Rack: The toothed segment at the end of the rack transmits and transforms the rotation triple-cam into the rotation of the minute cylinder. The toothed rack presents two properties that at first appear contradictory: absolute rigidity, so as to accurately transmit the motion of the cam to the minute cylinder; and extremely low mass to consume as little energy as possible and minimise the effects of gravity and accelerations/shocks. This vital component has been fabricated in nickel by Mimotec using their photolithography process. The honeycomb pattern of the nickel structure resolves the two apparently contradictory requirements of maximum strength and minimum weight.

URWERK UR-CC1 seconds disk

Seconds disk: The dial of the UR-CC1 is animated by a rotating disk displaying the seconds both digitally and linearly – a world first! This incredible exploit was achieved thanks to Mimotec’s photolithography production technique, which enabled the component to be fabricated from ultra-light nickel; the procedure is even more precise than electro-erosion. To reduce mass to an absolute minimum, the minuscule numerals were even skeletonised. A small tab at 10 seconds bearing the URWERK logo precisely counterbalances the disk’s single-digit numbers. This marvel of micro-precision weighs only 0.09 grams.

Rotor Fly Brake: UR-CC1 features URWERK’s pneumatic shock-absorbing Rotor Fly Brake automatic winding system, which minimizes rotor and mechanism wear and damage from shock and harsh movements. The operation of the Rotor Fly Brake is visible through a window on the side of the case.

Technical Specifications

URWERK UR-CC1 from profile

Model: UR-CC1
Case: available in either grey gold with titanium case back (limited edition of 25 pieces) or black gold with titanium case back (limited edition of 25 pieces); brushed-satin finish
Movement: calibre UR-CC1; automatic winding regulated by “fly brake turbine” pneumatic shock absorber
Indications: linear display for hours and minutes with jumping hours and retrograde minutes ; second display both digital and linear
Dimensions: 45.7mm x 43.5mm x 15mm
Dial and Bridges: ARCAP P40. SuperLumiNova treatment on hours, minutes displays

Urwerk UR103T grey gold

URWERK presents their latest UR103T creations in red gold and grey gold. But be careful as you are enticed into their golden web.

The originality of the UR103T is obvious at first glance: 4 highly visible rotating satellites bearing the hours take turns gliding past the minute arc. As they do, time is simultaneously indicated both digitally (hours) and analogically (minutes).

The main horological challenge was ensuring the perfect balance of the rotating satellites – which are more than 300 times heavier than a traditional hand – while minimizing friction, so that no energy is wasted. To do this Felix Baumgartner, master watchmaker and co-founder of URWERK, tested and selected the best performing material for the job: aluminum. The 4 satellites of the 103T are precisely crafted of aluminium for its optimal blend of strength and lightness. Each satellite is mounted on a bronze/beryllium Geneva cross and suspended from a orbital cross structure made from ARCAP 40: a material that is light, non-magnetic and corrosion resistant.

The satellites, each bearing 3 numbers, make a complete revolution of the dial every 4 hours and in that time turn four times 120°, to rotate 480° on their own axis. Each hour number displays the time as it advances slowly across the minute track.

On the back of the UR103T is URWERK’S famous world premier ‘Control Board’. This wristwatch “dashboard” features a 43-hour power reserve indicator, a chronometer with minutes and seconds facilitating accurate time-setting and, in a nod to Abraham Louis Breguet, a precision adjustment screw making it possible for the owner to precisely regulate the timing on their UR103 to match their lifestyle.

Urwerk UR103T exploded view

Model: UR103T

Case: Available in red gold or grey gold

Dimensions: 50mm x 36mm x 13.5mm

Movement: Calibre 3.03 ; manual winding; 21,600bph/3Hz Power reserve: 43 hours Triple bridges in black ARCAP P40 Time Indication by hour satellites rotated by Geneva crosses Control Board: Grade 5 titanium, power reserve indicator, 15-minute and seconds dials for precise time-setting, user adjustable fine-tuning screw