Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is thrilled to welcome you to The Geneva Sessions, Fall 2024, online auction, running from 12:00 PM CET, Thursday, September 5, to 2:00 PM CET, Thursday, September 12. Featuring more than 70 different high-end luxury wristwatches, the sale covers everything from A. Lange & Söhne and F.P. Journe to Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe, including the 18k white gold Urwerk UR-103 featured below.
– By Logan Baker
When Urwerk debuted the UR-103 in 2003, it signaled a revolutionary shift in the world of independent watchmaking.
It was a daring leap away from the conventional watch design language of the time, and its creation marked the emergence of a new era in independent watchmaking.
Conceived by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, founders of Urwerk, the UR-103 was the result of nearly three years of development and two additional years of testing. This watch encapsulated the duo's adventurous spirit, their fascination with science fiction and comic books, and their dedication to pushing the boundaries of haute horlogerie. The UR-103 quickly became a symbol of unbridled creativity and a milestone in the history of both the brand and of contemporary watchmaking as a whole.
Prior to the UR-103, Urwerk had made a name for itself with the UR-101 and UR-102 models, which, while innovative, still adhered to more traditional circular watch designs.
The UR-103, however, broke all the rules. It was a watch that defied classification. It featured a unique, avant-garde design that looked more like a piece of futuristic art than a traditional timepiece. This bold departure set the tone for Urwerk's future creations and positioned the brand as a leader in independent watchmaking – a movement that's now synonymous with a fearless approach to design and engineering.
The UR-103's case design was unlike anything seen before. Mixing geometric curves and blending them into a rectangular bombé shape, the case was simultaneously angular and organic. The top portion of the "dial" was adorned with engraved lines, giving the watch an industrial and almost architectural appearance. This was juxtaposed with a smooth, polished bottom portion where the passage of time took center stage.
At the heart of the UR-103 was its unique method of time indication. Instead of traditional hour and minute hands, Urwerk utilized a system of rotating satellite discs. The hours were etched onto these rotating satellites, which orbited a central axis. As each satellite passed along a 60-minute track, the correct hour aligned with the corresponding minute marker, allowing the exact time to be read instantly.
The slanting sides of the hour satellites also allowed for time reading without the need to turn the wrist – a subtle yet significant ergonomic consideration that underscored Urwerk's commitment to innovation. The luminous green Super-LumiNova set against the matte black dial enhanced legibility and provided a striking contrast, making the watch as functional as it was visually interesting.
The caseback of the UR-103 was no less impressive. Known as the "control board," it featured a power reserve indicator, a sub-dial for precise to-the-minute time setting, and an adjustment screw. This screw allowed the wearer to fine-tune the watch’s timing to an accuracy of +/- 30 seconds per day – a remarkable level of control that put the wearer in the driver’s seat of horological precision.
The oversized crown positioned at 12 o'clock was another standout feature. Its design, reminiscent of a rocket booster, was a nod to the sci-fi inspirations that influenced Baumgartner and Frei. This crown not only reinforced the watch’s futuristic aesthetic but also provided an intuitive and comfortable means of winding and setting the time.
The UR-103 is a true statement watch, a horological sculpture that represents the creative ideal of independent watchmaking. Each element of its design, from the shape of the case to the rotating satellite time display, reflects Urwerk's philosophy of challenging the status quo and reimagining what a watch can be.
Produced through 2010, the UR-103 was made in a variety of metals and styles, including white gold, rose gold, platinum, and even platinum black PE-CVD. Each iteration offered a different expression of the UR-103’s core design language while retaining its distinctive and futuristic appeal.
The specific UR-103 under discussion here is number three of a 25-piece limited edition. Offered in excellent overall condition, this 18k white gold example is part of the Phillips Geneva Sessions, Fall 2024, Online Auction and captures the essence of Urwerk's design philosophy; it dates to 2003 and carries an estimate between CHF 20,000 and 40,000.
For collectors of independent watches, the UR-103 represents a unique opportunity to own a piece of horological history. It is a watch that not only tells the time but also tells a story – a story of creativity, independence, and a bold reimagining of what a timepiece can be.
As an icon of 21st-century watchmaking, the UR-103 is a must-have in the collection of any serious enthusiast of independent watchmakers. It is a watch that, even years after its discontinuation, continues to captivate and inspire.
It laid the groundwork for future innovations from Urwerk and other independent brands, proving that there is always room for new ideas in watchmaking. The UR-103 will always hold a special place as a pioneer and an inspiration for generations to come.
You can view the complete Phillips Geneva Sessions, Fall 2024, Online Auction catalog here.
About Phillips In Association With Bacs & Russo
The team of specialists at PHILLIPS Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service. Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo holds the world record for the most successful watch auction, with its Geneva Watch Auction: XIV having realized $74.5 million in 2021. Over the course of 2021 and 2022, the company sold 100% of the watches offered, a first in the industry, resulting in the highest annual total in history across all the auction houses at $227 million.
About Logan Baker
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He splits his time between New York and Geneva.
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