WORLDTEMPUS - 24 March 2010
Elizabeth Doerr
Urwerk burst upon the high watchmaking scene in 2003 with the goal of creating a post-modern timepiece for the twenty-first century: the UR-103. It was presented for the first time at the A.H.C.I. (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendents) booth at Baselworld in 2003 and was intended as pure provocation against the established horological order. It goes without saying that it was completely unconventional in the way it displayed the time using four orbiting satellites instead of traditional hands.
“Entering its seventh year, our 103 collection has reached maturity,” explains the designer half of the Urwerk duo, Martin Frei. “It was Urwerk's first masterpiece, one of audacity and challenge. This emblematic model deserves an end befitting its bold life.”
The UR-103 now makes its final appearances in the form of the Mexican Fireleg, an almost aggressive UR-103T execution in a limited edition of 60 pieces, and the Shining T in a limited edition of 33 pieces. It was inspired by the world of Manga and is transparent enough to reveal the secrets of its mechanism: an ARCAP P40 bridge, titanium Geneva crosses, an orbital cross crafted in ARCAP P40, and hour satellites of transparent sapphire crystal.
