====== Urwerk ======
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**Urwerk** is an [[independent]] Swiss watch manufacturer active since [[1997]].

===== Overview =====
[[Felix Baumgartner]] and [[Martin Frei]] build exceptional watches in a yet unseen avant-garde style under the brand name //Urwerk//. After struggling for attention, they rapidly gained acclaim for their [[wandering hours]] movements and unconventional case shapes.

Thomas Baumgartner was born [[1968]] in [[Schaffhausen]] into a family with a long tradition of watchmaking, with his brother Felix arriving in [[1975]]. Martin Frei was born in [[1966]] in Winterthur and is graphic designer, designer and artist. Felix Baumgartner worked with [[Svend Andersen]] from [[1995]] when his watchmaker brother [[Thomas Baumgartner]] (who was at [[IWC]] before joining the same workshop as [[François-Paul Journe]]) introduced him to Frei. The three created Urwerk, and it was Thomas who was identified with the company initially. Thomas Baumgartner joined the [[AHCI]] in [[1999]], and when the company exhibited at [[BaselWorld|Basel 2000]] it was under his name. Thomas left the company in [[2004]] and the AHCI transferred his membership to Felix Baumgartner, often crediting him with being a member since 1999.

Urwerk's original watches were introduced in [[1997]] and featured a unique [[wandering hour]]s display and unusual dial-less case. The [[Urwerk UR-101|UR-101, UR-102, and "Nightwatch"]] would be the company's sole product while they worked to develop an in-house movement and unique time display. This launched in [[2003]] as the [[Urwerk UR-103|UR-103]], with the company's signature "Ur-Satellite" wandering hours display optimized for reading while driving. In [[2005]], [[Harry Winston]] unveiled the Urwerk-designed [[Harry Winston Opus V|Opus V]], which used the trademark Urwerk movement rotated to display the time on the left side.

Urwerk diversified in their second decade, adding an automatic movement in the successor [[Urwerk UR-202|UR-200 "Hammerhead" family]] in [[2007]] and their own "rotated" model, the [[Urwerk UR-110|UR-110 "Torpedo"]] in [[2011]], claiming the Design Watch Prize at the [[Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève]]. These watches were growing in size and complexity as well, with numerous indicators on front and back, an exposed fine-tuning adjustment screw, and "twin turbine" winding regulation. Urwerk was also developing their own specialty pieces, including the [[Urwerk UR-CC1|UR-CC1 "King Cobra"]] in [[2009]], [[Urwerk UR-1001|UR-1001 "Zeit Device"]] in [[2011]], and a collaboration with [[MB&F]] in [[2012]] resulting in the [[Urwerk MB&F Nitro|"Nitro"]].

In [[2013]], Urwerk unveiled their most ambitious creation, the [[Urwerk EMC|EMC]] which featured a novel electronic rate measurement display. The resulting EMC watch won both the Innovation and Mechanical Exception Watch Prizes at the [[Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève]] the following year. Urwerk also added new models to the range and retired the old, bringing the slimmer [[Urwerk UR-105|UR-105 "Knight"]] and ladies [[Urwerk UR-106|UR-106]] out in [[2014]] and [[2015]], respectively.

In [[2017]], Urwerk introduced the complex [[Urwerk UR-T8|UR-T8]] and began hinting at the forthcoming [[Urwerk AMC|AMC atomic clock/watch combination]]. The [[Urwerk UR-111C|UR-111C]] was introduced in [[2018]]. The company's current range includes four "Ur-Satellite" models, the UR-105 "Knight", UR-110 "Torpedo", [[Urwerk UR-210|UR-210 "Maltese Falcon"]], and ladies UR-106, along with specialty pieces like the EMC, T8, and UR-111C.

The new [[Urwerk AMC|AMC]], introduced in [[2018]], won the Audacity Prize at the [[Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève]] November, [[2019]].

===== Urwerk Models =====
The models of Urwerk are all priced in the upper range of luxury watches.

==== UR-Satellite ====
  * [[Urwerk UR-101]] ([[1997]]) [[Automatic]]
    * [[Urwerk UR-102]] ([[1997]]) (Nightwatch)
  * [[Urwerk UR-103]] ([[2003]]) Cal. UR-03 hand-winding (103.01, Junkers, 103.03, Blackbird, 103.05, 103.06 Edition Speciale, 103.08 TiALN, 103.09, Hexagon, Edition Speciale Art Deco, Phoenix "Only Watch")
    * [[Urwerk UR-103T]] ([[2009]]) (Mexican Fireleg, ShiningT)
  * [[Urwerk UR-201]] ([[2007]]) Cal. UR 7 hand-winding (Black Pt "Black Shark")
    * [[Urwerk UR-202]] Turbine Automatic "Hammerhead" ([[2008]]) Cal. UR 7.02 automatic (White Shark, Baguettes)
      * [[Urwerk UR-202S]] "Full Metal Jacket" ([[2011]])
    * [[Urwerk UR-203]] Black Pt ([[2010]])
  * [[Urwerk UR-110]] Torpedo ([[2011]]) Cal. UR-9 automatic (AlTiN, ZrN Torpedo, RG, TTH, ST, Pt, PtH, Eastwood)
  * [[Urwerk UR-210]] Maltese Falcon ([[2012]]) Cal. UR-7 automatic (AlTiN, Red Gold, Clou de Paris, Amadeus, Dubai)
    * [[Urwerk UR-210Y]] ([[2014]])
    * [[Urwerk UR-210S]] ([[2015]])
  * [[Urwerk UR-105]] Knight ([[2014]]) Cal. UR-5 hand-winding (105M, TA, Black Lemon, Black Orange, T-Rex, Clockwork Orange, Raging Gold, CT Streamliner)
  * [[Urwerk UR-106]] Lotus ([[2015]]) (Black Pink, Flower Power)

==== UR-Special Projects ====
  * [[Harry Winston Opus V]] ([[2005]])
  * [[Urwerk UR-CC1]] King Cobra ([[2009]]) (Black Cobra)
  * [[Urwerk UR-1001]] Zeit Device ([[2011]]) (Titan)
  * [[Urwerk MB&F Nitro]] C3H5N3O0/Experiment ZR012 ([[2012]])
  * [[Urwerk UR-T8]] ([[2017]])
  * [[Urwerk UR-111C]] ([[2018]])

==== UR-Chronometry ====
  * [[Urwerk EMC]] ([[2013]]) (Black, Pistol, Time Hunter, TimeHunter X-Ray)
  * [[Urwerk AMC]] ([[2018]])

==== Only Watch ====
  * [[Urwerk UR-103]] "Phoenix" ([[2011]])
  * [[Urwerk Arpal One]] ([[2017]])

===== Address =====
Felix Baumgartner\\ 

34, rue des Noirettes\\ CH-1227 Carouge\\ Tel. +41 22 900 20 25\\ Fax +41 22 900 20 26

E-Mail time@urwerk.ch

===== Weblinks =====
  * [[http://www.urwerk.com|Urwerk (company website)]]


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland FHH}}