Urwerk - RETROSPECTIVE: 2000 - 2020 Geneva Sunday, November 8, 2020 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Urwerk
    Year: Circa 2015
    Reference No: UR-202
    Model Name: Hammerhead
    Material: Titanium
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. UR 7.02, 34 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Titanium bracelet measuring 215mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Titanium deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 43.5mm. Width, 48mm. Length
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Urwerk undated Certificate of Origin, owners manual, outer packaging, plastic travel box and fitted presentation box.
    Literature: Urwerk is featured in Twelve faces of Time, Horological Virtuosos by Elisabeth Doerr and Ralf Baumgarten pp.186-201

  • Catalogue Essay

    For over 20 years Urwerk have been delighting and surprising collectors and enthusiasts with their incredible futuristic creations blending bold Sci-Fi designs and technical prowess.

    Upping the ante on their original design of rotating satellites to indicate time the UR-202 pushes the boundaries further. This ingenious system uses revolving satellites to display time and comprises of three cubes. Each cube has four faces, with one hour numeral on each face. As time goes forward, the cubes rotate individually to show the hour. At the same time, a telescopic minute hand extends or retracts to point the exact minutes.

    Furthermore, the dial side features a moonphase display on the left side and a night/day indicator on the right.

    The UR-202 watch features an automatic movement regulated by twin turbines, a world premiere when launched and unparalleled since. Connected to the winding mechanism, the turbines can be adjusted through a lever on the case back. While the wearer is being inactive, the automatic movement can be "free", meaning that the turbines spin at full throttle. Meanwhile, during sporting activities, the lever can be switched to "stop", which stops the turbines altogether.

    Audacious and daring, its unusual case design has inspired the nickname "The Hammerhead". The present example in darkened titanium is a limited edition of only 50 pieces. In almost unworn condition, it is a wonderful symbol of creative contemporary horology and one amongst the best 21st century watchmaking has to offer.

    Please note that Urwerk generously offers a complimentary service of the watch to the successful bidder.

  • 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-202
An impressive limited edition titanium wristwatch on bracelet with three-dimensional satellite hour display, telescopic minute hand, twin turbine winding system, moon phases, day night indicator, guarantee and fitted presentation box

Circa 2015
43.5mm. Width, 48mm. Length
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 60,000 
€28,000-55,900
$33,000-66,100

Sold for CHF69,300

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

Thomas Perazzi

Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2031

WatchesHK@phillips.com

RETROSPECTIVE: 2000 - 2020

Geneva Auction 8 November 2020