URWERK 202 – The Automatic Twin Turbine Watch
UR. The city of UR was the place where our perception of time was molded over 6000 years ago by moving shadows cast by the obelisks of UR. These giant sundials unveiled the mysteries of the earths movement through space. The Sumerians, the people of UR, declared that the passage of these shadows through the course of one year should be partitioned into 12 units, thus laying the foundation for a system of timekeeping that has endured to this day.
WERK. In German language the word “Werk” means to work, create, evolve, shape, forge and arouse emotion.
Launched in 1997 URWERK SA had one overriding aim, to follow nobody but to build and create their own path in pushing the boundaries of haute horlogerie even further.
The URWERK UR-202 AlTIN watch is to me one of the most unique designs for a watch and watch movement I have ever seen. The steel case is hardened with AlTin, Aluminum Titanium Nitride. This is a technical coating treatment originally designed for industry for full slotting and aggressive machining of stainless steel. The coating is less than 4 microns thick but has the effect of multiplying the resistance of the underlying metal to scratches, shocks, oxidation and acids. The movement is worlds first using fluid dynamic regulated rates. The traditional rotating vanes of the past have been replaced with cutting edge miniature twin turbines. Miniature air compressors which can be seen spinning on the back of the watch. These twin turbines are coupled with the winding rotors. According to the position of the selector lever, the turbines act as shock absorbers. In normal activity, they cushion sharp movements of the rotor, and reduce wear and increase the lifespan of the movement. The face is as unique as it is beautiful. The URWERKS UR-202 features a patented Revolving satellite complication with telescopic minute hands. The revolving satellite complication displays time using telescopic minute hands operating through the middle of three orbiting and revolving hours satellites. The telescopic minutes hands precisely adjust their length to follow the three sectors marking the minutes. Extended they enable the UR-202 to display the time across a large, easy to read dial. Retracted they allow for a very wearable and comfortably sized case. It is also uber cool. URWERK
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