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In-Depth – Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner: the Origins and What NYC has to do with it?

Launched to coincide with Urwerk’s twentieth anniversary in 2017, the UR-105 CT Streamliner is a celebration of the city that put the wind in Urwerk’s sails: New York. Three versions of the UR-105 CT are in circulation today, each one designed to capture a New York minute. According to co-founder and designer Martin Frei, the titanium and polished steel model is “like New York City in broad daylight, bright and shiny” while the Kryptonite model evokes a Gotham City atmosphere emitting its green lume in the dark. The most stealth interpretation of the three Streamliners is this titanium and black PVD-coated steel version, something the Dark Knight might have worn on his vigilante crusade to eradicate evil from Gotham City, New York’s fictional alter-ego in Batman movies and comics.

Introducing – URWERK UR-105 CT Kryptonite

At URWERK, there are recurring themes. The first and main one is that unique display, based on the satellite wandering-hours indication, which has defined most of the brand’s watches for now over 20 years. Another one is the combination of black case and bright coloured indexes. With the brand’s latest creation, the URWERK UR-105 CT Kryptonite (a variation around an already existing watch, the Streamliner), Luminosity is at centre stage.

Hands-on – LAURENT FERRIER x URWERK LR-UR 2 – Going for an Encore of the Arpal One

Following the intense teamwork and understanding that developed between Laurent Ferrier and Urwerk’s dynamic duo – Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner – to create the Arpal One timepiece for the Only Watch Auction of 2017, the sale of the watch left them with an empty nest syndrome. To counter the blues they were experiencing, they decided to go for an encore and have created four signed watches named LR-UR 2, which, like the Arpal One, will “be sold for the benefit of medical research”. While the shape of the case and the movement are the same as the Arpal 1, the material of the case and finishes are light years apart. The only problem with these four watches is that their parents don’t want to give them a name because they “merely represent the lap of honour of an outstanding team.”

Buying Guide – 5 Mechanical Marvels from Baselworld 2018

On the contrary of most of the other buying guides we’ve published, the present one is more of a “wish list” or a “dream list” rather than a proper guide – or consider it a guide for those who already have everything they need and more. Nothing here is rational, it’s all about passion, ingenuity, creativity and impressive mechanics. From the thinnest automatic watch ever created to a signing automaton or an atomic sympathique clock, here the 5 most impressive mechanical creations we’ve seen at Baselworld 2018.

Introducing – URWERK UR-105 CT Streamliner, The NYC-Inspired Targa Watch (Hands-On)

As some of you might know (and we told you here, on Mono’), independent brand URWERK is celebrating this year its 20th anniversary. Hard to believe, but the baby has grown up to become an adult… Will that means becoming serious and void of creativity? Certainly not. This year, the brand presents the URWERK UR-105 CT Streamliner, a modern watch inspired by the earliy years of the creators, Martin and Felix. A look back over the shoulder, but not with nostalgia or regret.

Only Watch 2017 – Introducing the Laurent Ferrier X URWERK Collaboration Piece: Arpal One

When looking at the independent watchmaking scene, what other watchmaking companies than Laurent Ferrier and URWERK could be more different. On one side is the essence of classicism, of traditions and of high-end, hand-finished watchmaking. On the other side is the very definition of bold creativity, avant-garde display and futuristic design. Who could have imagine that one day, these two could find an agreement on creating a watch. But as with magnetic fields, opposites attract each other. And the result, to be auctioned at Only Watch 2017, is a stunning unique piece made by Laurent Ferrier and URWERK, named the Arpal One.

What could well be on the wrist of Iron Man / Robert Downey JR? A URWERK UR-110 of course (and he wears it in Spider-Man Homecoming)

In the world of watches, it’s rather common to have watches “placed” in movies (sometimes, it’s a bit more than just that however). That’s a practice named “product placement” and, in certain measures, it seems to help selling watches (do you feel the irony here…?) However, the story here is much cooler than the usual “watch in a movie” and has been dictated by passion, and with one of the coolest watches around. So, what could well be the watch worn by Iron Man / Tony Stark a.k.a Robert Downey JR in upcoming movie Spider-Man Homecoming? And why this choice?

When Sci-Fi and Tradition Meet – The URWERK UR-210 Amadeus

When you think URWERK, you immediately have in mind Sci-Fi, space-crafts, ultra-modern design, sharp and bold shapes, unusual display of the time and haute-complication. Like them or not but admit it, URWERK watches are not standard. They create strong emotions on us, in a way or another. However, tradition and ancestral techniques are not words that you would usually place next to URWERK… Until the brand came with this unchained watch, mixing a century-old craftsmanship with their signature bold design, the URWERK UR-210 Amadeus.

Almost Vintage… Christie’s To Auction Online Three Of The Earliest URWERK Watches

Almost vintage… Indeed, this might be a bit provocative, however do consider that what you see here is a time-capsule, enclosing 20 years of history. That’s right, the everlasting young and creative brand URWERK is celebrating this year two decades of bold and unchained horological creations. So, well, vintage… Maybe not! Extremely collectible… Most definitely, as Christie’s Watches Online is now having for sale three of the earliest URWERK watches, which is quite a rare opportunity to get your hands on a piece of the independent scene’s history.

My 2017 SIHH Highlights, Shot With A Leica Q

At the 2017 SIHH in Geneva I particularly liked the Carré des Horlogers, as the SIHH independents’ hall is known, which showcases some of the industry’s finest creative minds producing amazing watches, both traditional and contemporary. So without further ado, here are my SIHH highlights, most of which come from that hall.

Watch Dandy

Category: Urwerk