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

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  • Manufacturer: Urwerk
    Year: Circa 2019
    Reference No: UR-111C
    Case No: Stamped with limited edition number 10/25
    Model Name: Gun Metal
    Material: Titanium and Stainless steel
    Calibre: Manual, cal. UR-111C, 37 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Nylon
    Clasp/Buckle: Titanium Urwerk pin buckle
    Dimensions: 42mm Width x 46mm Length
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Urwerk International undated Warranty, presentation box, owner’s manual, outer packaging and official Urwerk drawing in leather folio.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Urwerk team of Felix Baumgartner (master watchmaker) and Martin Frei (designer) have been creating time pieces defying conventional nomenclature for over 20 years. Rotating discs or cubes to indicate time have become their signature, however the present UR-111C is a breakthrough from what we are used to seeing from them yet perfectly in line and recognizable as an Urwerk creation.

    Inspired by the original King Cobra the brand had introduced in 2010 which in itself was a homage to a Patek Philippe prototype created by Louis Cottier (now in the Patek Philippe Museum) the present UR-111C presents a novel linear time display where hours and minutes are indicated via rotating cones. On the left side the hours are indicated, the centre stage is reserved for the minutes, where a cylinder with a yellow marker twists its way up the minute track and, upon reaching the red 60-minute marker jumps back to zero where the hour cylinder rotates to the next hour. The opening on the right also indicated in the continuous minutes. On the top part of the case is the seconds indication using optical fibers.

    Doing away with the conventional crown the watch is wound via the roller on the centre of the case, once the lever on the case side is pulled the roller can be used for time setting.

    Limited to 25 pieces in steel and 25 in steel with gunmetal finish like the present example, Urwerk’s UR-111C is an incredibly ingenious, audacious and wearable timepiece definitely with a futuristic design but inspired from the history of watchmaking.

    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-111C
An unusual and attractive stainless steel linear time display wristwatch with gunmetal finish, presentation box and guarantee

Circa 2019
42mm Width x 46mm Length
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF50,000 - 100,000 
€46,600-93,200
$55,100-110,000

Sold for CHF78,120

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