Urwerk - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Urwerk
    Year: 1997
    Reference No: UR-102
    Case No: 11
    Model Name: UR-102
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, 17 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: 38mm Diameter
    Signed: Case and movement signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Urwerk fitted box
    Literature: Urwerk is featured in Twelve faces of Time, Horological Virtuosos by Elisabeth Doerr and Ralf Baumgarten pp.186-201

  • Catalogue Essay

    The UR-102, launched in 1997 at the Basel watch fair, is as close as one can get to calling a piece made from Urwerk “vintage”. It was, along with the UR-101 the founding pieces for Urwerk, underlining Urwerk’s ambition to bring a completely fresh and out of the box approach to watches and watchmaking and to make derivative artwork that also tell time.

    The brand’s signature wandering hour time display is already present but in a rather minimalistic fashion. In a design twist, the odd hours are displayed on an orange background whereas the even hours are displayed on a black background. One might rightly consider the case design, with its round bombé shape and 8 lugs, as having a somewhat sci-fi vibe, this comes from the fact that the case was inspired by the Soviet satellite Sputnik.

    Both incredibly rare and historically relevant, the present UR-102 offers the collector of modern icons the possibility to own one of the earliest watches created by one of the leaders of Creative Independent Horology, a genre that would boost Urwerk to watchmaking heights a few years later.

    Please note that Urwerk generously offers a complementary servicing of the watch to the winning bidder within a period of 6 months after the sale.

  • Artist Biography

    Urwerk

    Swiss • 1997

    The Swiss firm's name "Urwerk" is a play on the German word meaning clockwork. "Ur" is an ancient Sumerian city in which the populace used sundials for timekeeping, while "werk" is German for creation. The company started by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei is known for their innovative avant-garde designs inspired by space travel. With their own take on time indication, like many of their contemporaries, their futuristic timepieces are rooted in high-end traditional watchmaking. Their signature floating method of time indication using rotating satellites traces back to a watch made in 1656. Producing only 150 watches per year, they have impressed connoisseurs with their innovativeness and cutting-edge technical prowess.

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Ref. UR-102
An unusual and cutting edge historically important stainless steel wristwatch with wandering hours display, with presentation box

1997
38mm Diameter
Case and movement signed

Estimate
CHF20,000 - 40,000 
€18,600-37,200
$21,600-43,300

Sold for CHF100,800

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021