The UR-110 continues URWERK’s radical tradition of telling the time using orbiting satellite complications. In the UR-110, the time is always shown on the right side of the watch. The satellites follow a vertical line, graded from 0 to 60 minutes, in a downward motion. The ingenuity of this layout lies in allowing the wearer to view the time discreetly and elegantly without the need to pull back a cuff or sleeve.
“The UR-110 is a logical evolution of our creations,” says Martin Frei. “We imagined time as a ‘silent journey’ where the hour satellites make a full rotation of the dial. But it is a velvet revolution; between rotation and counter rotations the effect is subtle and fluid. There are things happening on the dial that are not obvious at first glance. Everything looks normal. However, in fact they are everything but.”
The UR-110 is a timepiece in which its technology can be appreciated though the large panoramic sapphire crystal. As well as indicating the hours and minutes, the UR-110 also features a Control Board on the dial side with indicators for “Day/Night” and “Oil Change” (URWERK’s service interval display) as well as small seconds on a sub dial.
“The beauty of the UR-110 is in its apparent simplicity,” explains Felix Baumgartner. “The development of UR-110 mobilized our entire team for nearly two years. Among the challenges posed by this complication was working out the optimal architecture for supporting the central carousel and the rotating hour modules. We finally opted for a technical solution that is radically different from any of our other creations: Instead of ball bearings, a fixed axis runs the full height of the watch, providing maximum rigidity and minimum play. The whole complication is perfectly balanced on this axis.”
The frosted champagne colour of the *Zirconium Nitride prevails on the steel bezel in juxtaposition with the technical gray of the titanium case. Legibility is assured by bright yellow Super-LumiNova minute and hour numbers – the latter with the timepiece’s identification number in red – set in the subtle perfection of the superbly finished mechanisms. Turning the watch over reveals the titanium back enclosing an innovative automatic winding system regulated by dual turbines.
An Édition Spéciale of just 12 pieces available exclusively from Chronopassion (Paris), Marcus (London), The Hour Glass (Singapore) and Westime (Los Angeles).
Case
Grade 5 titanium with bezel in 316L sandblasted stainless steel treated with *Zirconium Nitride
Dimensions: 47mm x 51mm x 16mm
Two-position winding crown with cover
Water resistance: Pressure tested to 3 ATM
Movement
Calibre: UR 9.01 self-winding
Balance: Monometallic
Jewels: 46
Frequency: 28,800v/h, 4Hz
Balance spring: Flat
Power: Single mainspring barrel
Power reserve: 39 hours
Winding system: Unidirectional winding rotor coupled to twin turbines
Finish: Circular graining and diamond polishing
Chamfered and polished screw heads
Indications
Revolving satellite complication with rotating hour/minute modules mounted on planetary gears
Control Board: Day/Night indicator; “Oil Change” indicator and running seconds
*Please note that ZrN (Zirconium Nitride) is an industrial treatment that can result in variations in and the colour/hue on the bezel and between individual models.