Daniel Oliver 
Having invented the satellite-dice hour indicator, Urwerk is undoubtedly top practitioner of up to date watchmaking. But the brand has continue on to tweak its unconventional time displays, together with the most recent swivelling-prism hours within just a glass cylinder.
Now the model has gone back to its roots when at the same time innovating. The UR-120 “Spock” is a novel get on its signature wandering hrs that has the acquainted triple satellites on a carousel, but each individual satellite is basically a pair of cubes that sequentially break up, rotate, and converge in order to screen the hours.
First ideas
Credit rating goes to Urwerk for continuing to innovate with its avant-garde shows. The most recent invention retains the recognisable Urwerk look and experience but generates a much more dynamic visual show with the splitting and becoming a member of motions.
The two-aspect hour dice is clever, even though not entirely new. It reminds me of the Harry Winston Opus Eleven, a considerably a lot more complex interpretation of the notion that relied on four panels to screen each individual hour numeral – one particular so sophisticated the observe never ever produced it to market.
Although the two-aspect cube show is new, the relaxation of the movement is very similar to the UR-110, resulting in related general aesthetics. Though unorthodox in model, the UR-120 has a clear styling that helps make it legible, even though it may take some obtaining employed to when examining the time.
One criticism of the dial design problems the nickel alloy parts manufactured via the LIGA photolithography strategy. They are coated in gold and have rounded, curved forms (since they are primarily springs), resulting in an organic really feel that seems out of area on a sci-fi look at. That stated, it’s good to see Urwerk using modern-day producing tactics to build far more adaptable factors.
When the two-pieces cubes are definitely novel, the UR-120 might be also related to past satellite-dice hrs products for latest entrepreneurs of an Urwerk. At the same time, while the UR-120 is more advanced than many of its predecessors, it does not have the very same impression considering the fact that the earlier watches made their debut in much more boring instances.
Nonetheless, the UR-120 is priced reasonably as such issues go, which is a large furthermore. The value of CHF100,000 would make feeling as it puts the UR-120 above entry-level designs with wandering hrs, but underneath the flagship satellite-cube several hours with retrograde minutes.
Double hours with twin-cubes
If the design of the UR-120 seems familiar, it’s because the look at is evolved from the UR-110 of a decade in the past. It retains a equivalent situation and dial, but a a lot more complex hour exhibit that is made up of twin cubes for each individual hour. Urwerk co-founder Felix Baumgartner is especially proud of the new show, saying “When we realised we were going to have to open up the satellite, I was over the moon.”
With just about every hour satellite becoming manufactured up of two cubes, and every single cube owning four faces, just about every satellite carries 4 hour numerals for a whole of 12 hrs throughout three satellites. The twin-cube display does have a functional reward as the hour numerals are now much larger and far more legible. According to Mr Baumgartner, the numerals are now 35% more substantial as opposed to people in the UR-110.
Pointless to say the twin-cube show is additional challenging than its one-cube counterpart, considering the fact that the twin cubes have to perform a few actions: rotating as very well as splitting or converging. But the complexity of the display screen is not just generating the cubes break up and combine. The motion of the cubes involves considerable open up space in a few dimensions.
As the cubes split, they sort a V-shaped angle that the brand name described as influenced by the Vulcan salute, the break up-fingered greeting popularised by the Star Trek. The Vulcan salute was invented by Leonard Nimoy, the actor who portrayed the Spock in the sci-fi television sequence, for this reason the UR-120’s nickname.
A key factor of the new show is the gilded, lyre-shaped spring that facilitates the splitting and combining of each and every cube. The nickel alloy springs created in-household via the LIGA approach, then PVD-coated in 24k gold, and essential to the display screen mechanism.
“At the correct second of the salute, a lyre-formed spring opens and then closes the satellite,” clarifies Mr Baumgartner, “Managing electrical power then and there is complex and extremely subtle… We need to manage the opening and the stud rotation.”
Other than the twin-cube display, the rest of the UR-120 is what you expect in an Urwerk. That incorporates a carousel that normally takes the satellites close to the dial, letting the latest hour satellite to double up as the moment hand.
As is custom for Urwerk, the distinctive time display module is mounted on a responsible foundation motion, in this case a Zenith Elite automatic calibre. Also uncovered in the UR-100V, the motion has been upgraded with a propeller-formed equipment on the rotor to moderate the rate of winding.
The circumstance is comprised of two metals, with the darker elements currently being designed of titanium, when the relaxation is in metal
Measuring 44 mm by 47 mm on the entrance, the dimensions of the UR-120 are equivalent to the UR-110. But the styling of the situation has been refined and simplified. Among other factors, the screws and notches identified on the on the front plate of the UR-110 have bee completed away with, providing the UR-120 a modern, streamlined glance.
And in an unusual move for Urwerk, the situation incorporates precise lug. This turns out to be a great style and design option as the lugs produce a visual split between the many segments of the case, staying away from the overly vast and prolonged appear of the UR-110.
Important Info and Selling price
Urwerk UR-120 aka Spock
Diameter: 44 mm x 47 mm
Peak: 15.8 mm
Content: Steel and titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Drinking water resistance: 30 m
Movement: UR-20.01
Capabilities: Several hours and minutes
Winding: Automated
Frequency: 28,800 beats for each hour (4 Hz)
Electrical power reserve: 48 times
Strap: Embossed calf leather strap
Constrained version: No, but confined by generation
Availability: At Urwerk stores
Value: CHF100,000
For far more, visit Urwerk.com.
