Urwerk

Christie's, Dubai, March 2022, Lot 8

Introduced in 2007, the UR-201 stands as a foundational creation in Urwerk’s early development, embodying the brand’s radical rethinking of time display and mechanical interaction. Conceived by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, the watch presents time through Urwerk’s signature revolving satellite hours, employing angular truncated pyramids set at 85 degrees for optimal legibility from multiple angles. As a formative, prototypical model that would give rise to the technically refined UR-202, the UR-201 was later offered by the manufacture to be exchanged for its successor; as a result, only a very few examples remain in circulation today, greatly enhancing its rarity and desirability among collectors.

At its core, the UR-201 is as much an instrument as a timepiece. In addition to its wandering hours display and telescopic minute hand, it features a series of unprecedented technical indicators, including a control board for fine regulation, a life time counter tracking the movement’s total years of operation, and an oil change service indicator, an industry first that signals when maintenance is required.

The satellites are mounted on a patented carousel system treated with “Blacktop” PE-CVD coating to enhance durability and reduce friction, while their bevelled edges are finished to a mirror polish using a diamanté process. The organically curved case, inspired by the hammerhead shark, is topped by a wide sapphire crystal designed for lateral readability.

The present pink gold UR-201 is preserved in very appealing condition and represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of Urwerk’s earliest and most conceptually daring creations, a key milestone in the evolution of independent watchmaking.