Developed over nearly three years and tested for two more, the UR-103 marked a dramatic departure from Urwerk’s earlier round-cased UR-101 and UR-102 models. It defied traditional watch design entirely, offering something that looked more like a machine from the future than a wristwatch. With its radical form and unconventional display, the UR-103 became a foundational piece for what would soon be celebrated as Independent Creative Horology.

The design is a blend of industrial character and sculptural geometry. Its bombé, rectangular case features engraved lines across the top, giving it a distinctly mechanical aesthetic. Time is read through a window at the base, where Urwerk’s signature rotating satellite discs display the hours as they sweep across a minute track—an ingenious and instantly legible system that redefined how a watch could communicate time.

On the caseback, a power reserve indicator and subdial for precise minute-by-minute setting underscore the model’s technical ambition. A fine adjustment screw even allows the wearer to regulate the watch’s accuracy by up to ±30 seconds per day. Number 04 of just 25 pieces made, the present pink gold UR-103 is preserved in excellent condition and stands as a milestone in independent watchmaking—both rebellious and deeply refined.