Violet sits at the far end of the colours the human eye can see, and for URWERK co-founder Martin Frei that edge is worth a watch of its own.
URWERK introduces the UR-100V UltraViolet, a violet version of its 100 family on a textured rubber strap. “I am fascinated by the idea of creating a watch that celebrates this boundary, this tipping point, this transition from perceptible to imperceptible,” says Frei, co-founder and chief designer.
The hours travel on satellites past a minutes scale. Once the hour is complete, the minutes hand vanishes and reappears as a kilometre counter. It shows 555 kilometres, the distance each inhabitant of Earth travels every 20 minutes as the planet turns at the Equator. Opposite, a second scale follows the Earth around the sun.
The idea came from a clock by Gustave Sandoz, a gift to co-founder Felix Baumgartner from his father Geri, a restorer of antique clocks. Instead of the hours, it showed the distance the Earth turns at the Equator. The new calibre places the hour markers closer to the minutes scale, for easier reading.
The case looks back to URWERK’s first models, their steel dome now rendered in sapphire crystal over rough, violet-coated titanium.
The Basics
Brand: URWERK
Model: UR-100V UltraViolet
Dimensions: 41mm width × 49.7mm length × 14mm height
Case material: Violet DLC on sanded, shot-blasted titanium; sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 3ATM (30m)
Strap: Textured rubber, titanium pin buckle
The Movement
Calibre: UR 12.02
Functions: Satellite hours; minutes; rotational distance at the Equator in 20 minutes; orbital distance in 20 minutes
Winding: Automatic, bidirectional rotor regulated by a Windfänger airscrew
Power reserve: 48 hours
Frequency: 28,800 v/h (4Hz)
Jewels: 40
Images courtesy of URWERK.