Urwerk turns 20. This upstart is now an adult. But it is still turning tables, upsetting norms, and still uber cool. Twenty years ago, the then 22 year old Felix Baumgartner went to New York, where Martin Frei lived. And together they started Urwerk. This latest iteration of their creation is a mix of emotions, a play of the vibrant, the noisy, the thrilling in a fantasy playground. We present the latest Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner.
The Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner
The Urwerk UR-105 CT Strealiner. Art Deco influences in a elongated octagonal case.
The UR-105 CT is an objet that fits snugly in the palm of your hand. The shape of the case is unique, and roughly an octagon with deep grooves along its length. The motif on the case is Art Deco influenced, with geometric angularity and symmetry.
“The Streamliner has a minimalist design with few frills and clean lines. In the initial drawings, I thought of the Empire State, the Chrysler and the Comcast buildings. That is why it has that vertical structure that seems to go on forever.” Martin Frei explains.
The sketches by Martin Frei outlining the design of the Streamliner.
The top of the case slides off by releasing a small catch to show the mechanism of the UR 105CT. The familiar wandering hour indication with the openwork carousel carries four satellites, each bearing three numerals for the hours. The hours successively sweep past the minutes scale for an analogue and digital display of the time.
According to Felix Baumgartner, Streamliner is an apt name for this watch. “The UR-105 CT is a watch with a flexible design. When it is closed, it looks austere, with only the time indication visible. Open the protective cover and you delve into a metallic environment that is quite cold, yet you perceive a notion of speed and an effort at efficiency. The Streamliner’s carousel has been completely redesigned, becoming lighter, stronger and far more effective.”
head on, with the top cover slide out to show the movement.
A power-reserve indicator and digital seconds make up the rest of the information displayed on the dial. The digital seconds are remarkable in that they indicate tens of seconds. The mechanism was made using a photolithographic process, with each marker openworked to make it as light as possible. Each marker weighing a tenth of a gram.
Two pneumatic turbines on the back govern the selfwinding rate, which can be set with a lever. In the FULL position, the slightest movement of the wrist is harnessed to rewind the barrel spring. Turn the lever to STOP to disengage the selfwinding system and wind up the UR-105 using the crown. An intermediate position, RED (for reduced) engages the turbines to dampen the winding rotor and avoid overstressing the mainspring, if you are particularly active.
A wrist shot of the Urwerk UR 105CT.
Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner – Specifications
The Streamliner comes in two versions:
Titanium and mirror-polished steel (CHF 65’000.00 – Swiss francs / tax not included)
Titanium and black PVD coated steel (CHF 65’000.00 – Swiss francs / tax not included)
Movement
Calibre: UR 5.03 with the selfwinding system governed by twin turbines
Jewels: 52
Frequency: 28,800v/h – 4Hz
Power reserve: 48 hours
Materials: Satellite hours turning on Geneva crosses in beryllium bronze; openworked aluminium carousel; openworked digital seconds; carousel and triple baseplates in ARCAP
Finishes: Circular graining, sanding, brushing
Chamfered screw heads
Hours and minutes painted in SuperLuminova
Indications
Wandering hours; minutes, digital seconds
Power reserve
Case
Materials: UR-105 CT case “savonette” in titanium and mirror-polished steel
UR-105 CT black case “savonette” in titanium and PVD coated steel
Dimensions: Width 39.5mm; length: 53mm; thickness: 17.3mm
Glass: Sapphire crystal
Water resistance: Pressure tested to 3ATM (30m)
