Urwerk : Haute Horlogerie timepieces with a joyous attitude

UR-105 TA “Black lemon” OR “Black orange”

Case : titanium with black PVD steel bezel, sapphire Crystal, water-resistant to 30m Size : 39.5x 53mm Movement : self-winding mechanical movement (5.02UR caliber, 48h power reserve), regulated by a double turbine, satellite hours driven by Geneva crosses in beryllium bronze, circular graining, bead-blasting, satin-finishing, beveled screw heads Dial : none, orbital structure of PEEK, carrousel and triple mainplates in ARCAP Functions : satellite hours, linear minutes, hour and minute markers treated with Super-LumiNova Strap : Baltimora with deployment buckle Limited production


The UR-105 TA revisits Urwerk’s iconic satellite indication, which has been an emblematic and instantly recognizable signature element of the brand for 18 years. Four satellites, each bearing three hour numerals, successively reveal themselves from under a sublime guilloché black cover in polyetheretherketone (PEEK) as they parade past the minute rail to display the time. Everything exudes precision and refinement, from the carrousel chassis to the dial, from the touches that are invisible to those on full display through the large sapphire crystal. For example, the hidden ARCAP satellite carrousel has been treated with ruthenium then micro bead blasted to a finish meeting the very highest standards of haute horlogerie. “With the UR-105 TA we wanted to get the best of two worlds. We have enjoyed demonstrating the extent of our savoir-faire, from the micron-precision mastery of our CNC machines, to the superb hand finishing carried out in our ateliers. It is a piece that delights the eye. Observed under the loupe, it reveals all the little subtleties that we have incorporated into it,” says Felix Baumgartner, and URWERK co-founder and chief watchmaker. The UR-105 TA also embodies all the years of research invested in URWERK’s wandering hour satellites. Here, the ingenuity of this mechanism lies in the invisible carrousel responsible for the operation of the satellite hours. The carousel operates precisely, silently, subtly and in harmony with the rest of the timepiece.

 

The “TA” of the UR-105 TA stands for “Turbine Automatic”. That is because the movement’s automatic winding is optimally regulated by dual air turbines on full show on the back. These turbines are bead-blasted, satin-finished and treated with black PVD for perfect aesthetics. The winding mode is selected by a small lever. In the “FULL” position, only the slightest movement is needed to wind up the mainspring. “RED.” (for “REDUCED”) moderates the winding so as to minimize excessive tension on the mainspring. On “STOP” mode, the winding system is disabled and the UR-105 TA can then be hand-wound if necessary by the crown. “The UR-105 TA is our URWERK Knight,” says Martin Frei, artistic director and co-founder of URWERK.  “The bezel evokes the breastplate of a knight’s armor, protecting the mechanism from the ravages of time. The UR-105 TA is an haute horlogerie creation, with all high-end codes respected, but in the Black Orange or Black Lemon versions, it’s their zesty appeal that really arouses the senses.”  Sand blasting and micro bead blasting are applied with the same care as with more classical timepieces. However, the addition of bright colors has these watches bursting into life, and infusing them with real energy. It is the watch that the team had the most fun in designing, the most pleasure in developing its mechanisms, and the most satisfaction in its hand finishing and assembly.


Rédacteur en chef des magazines GMT et Skippers dont il est le cofondateur depuis 2000 et 2001, Brice Lechevalier est aussi à la tête de WorldTempus depuis son intégration dans la société GMT Publishing, qu’il dirige en tant que co-actionnaire. Il a par ailleurs créé le Geneva Watch Tour en 2012 et conseille le Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève depuis 2011. Côté nautisme, il édite aussi le magazine de la Société Nautique de Genève depuis 2003, tout en étant membre fondateur des SUI Sailing Awards (les prix officiels de la voile suisse) depuis 2009 et du Concours d’Elégance de bateaux à moteur du Cannes Yachting Festival depuis 2015.

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