Martin Frei, Chief Designer and co-founder of URWERK, designs each watch to change with the angle, the light and the movement of the wrist.
URWERK today introduces the UR-150 Golden Scorpion, a new take on the UR-150 in yellow gold, limited to 25 pieces. The brand says the gold makes the watch less armour and more sculpture.
Three hour satellites turn on a central flying carousel. A retrograde hand sweeps the minutes across a 240-degree arc, then snaps back to its start in one hundredth of a second. A cam-and-rack system, with a speed regulator more often used in minute repeaters, takes the place of the usual Maltese cross.
The case is cut from yellow gold, its curves broken by sharp edges, with a titanium caseback in black PVD. Inside is the automatic calibre UR-50.01, with 43 hours of power reserve.
“With the Golden Scorpion, yellow gold behaves almost like an optical material,” says Frei. “It reveals certain lines, makes others disappear and constantly renews the perception of the watch”.
Felix Baumgartner, URWERK’s master watchmaker and co-founder, links the name to the tension between the satellites’ path and the sudden return of the hand.
The Basics
Brand: URWERK
Model: UR-150 Golden Scorpion
Dimensions: 51.00mm long × 42.50mm wide
Thickness: 14.80mm
Case material: 2N yellow gold; titanium caseback, black PVD; domed sapphire crystal
Dial: No conventional dial: aluminium satellite hours and a retrograde hand, hand-painted with Super-LumiNova
Water resistance: Pressure-tested to 5 ATM, screw-down crown
Strap: Adjustable high-performance hybrid rubber strap, folding clasp
Limited edition: 25 pieces
The Movement
Calibre: UR-50.01, automatic, regulated by a double turbine system
Functions: Satellite hours; retrograde minutes over a 240° arc
Winding: Automatic (self-winding)
Power reserve: 43 hours
Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour)
Jewels: 38
Images courtesy of URWERK.