URWERK co-founders Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei set three hour satellites on a flying carousel, then made them change places in a hundredth of a second.
URWERK today introduces the UR-150 Blue Scorpion, a limited edition of 50 pieces that pairs the satellite display with a retrograde minute hand.
The retrograde hand frames the active satellite as it sweeps a 240° arc through the hour. At the 60th minute, the hand flies back while each satellite pivots on its axis and rotates 270°. A cam-and-rack mechanism from the world of automatons, with a speed governor, manages the energy.
The case, in beadblasted steel and sandblasted titanium, measures 42.50mm by 51.00mm. Inside is the automatic calibre UR-50.01, its winding governed by a double turbine, with 43 hours of power reserve.
“We have pushed mechanical complexity to its limits in pursuit of a single goal: clarity. Each satellite is tilted at 10° to face the wearer,” says Baumgartner, URWERK’s master watchmaker.
Even at a hundredth of a second, URWERK says, the choreography is built to be seen, not merely trusted.
The Basics
Brand: URWERK
Model: UR-150 Blue Scorpion
Dimensions: 42.50mm wide × 51.00mm long
Thickness: 14.80mm
Case material: Beadblasted steel and sandblasted titanium; domed sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 50m (pressure-tested at 5 ATM)
Strap: High-performance hybrid rubber, adjustable, with folding clasp
Limited edition: 50 pieces
The Movement
Calibre: UR-50.01, automatic
Functions: Satellite hours, retrograde minutes (240°)
Winding: Automatic, governed by a double turbine
Power reserve: 43 hours
Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vph)
Jewels: 38
Images courtesy of URWERK.