Urwerk - The New York Watch Auction: X New York Saturday, June 8, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Urwerk
    Year: Circa 2007
    Reference No: UR 103.08
    Case No: No. 04
    Model Name: UR 103.08 TiAlN
    Material: TiAlN (titanium aluminium nitride) -coated stainless steel and titanium
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 3.03, 21 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Urwerk black material strap
    Clasp/Buckle: TiAlN-coated stainless steel pin buckle
    Dimensions: 50mm length x 36mm width
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
    Accessories: Accompanied by Urwerk Certificate and International Guarantee, instruction manual, fitted presentation box, and outer box.

  • Catalogue Essay

    In production from 2003 until 2010, the UR-103 is one of the most recognizable iterations for the ingenious Urwerk brand, brainchild of watchmaker Felix Baumgartner and designer Martin Frei. With its curved, avant-garde form and intricate, unusual time display, the UR-103 was a success with collectors upon its release, and was adapted with many different materials and treatments over its production run.

    The UR-103.08 dating to 2007 is crafted in a highly interesting and novel material: stainless steel coated in titanium aluminum nitride. This unique alloy gives the watch a purplish-bronze metallic hue and an increased hardness – to protect against scratches – similar to that of sapphire. An estimated 50 examples were made, of which this is numbered 04, and it is one of the very few to bear the intensely difficult to engineer angular crystal. Due to the difficulties encountered in manufacturing the angular crystal, only 20 of the 50 examples are fitted with this specific crystal. Despite its unconventional shape, it is quite ergonomic and easy to wear, as well as striking and adventurous.

    Time is indicated via four three-dimensional orbiting and revolving hour-display satellites. A first for the industry, the reverse of the watch features a dashboard featuring a power reserve display, indication of minutes and running seconds for exact time setting, as well as a small screw enabling the wearer to fine tune the hairspring for greater precision.

    Accompanied by its original complement of accessories and rarely seen TiAlN-coated stainless steel pin buckle, it is preserved in excellent condition.

  • Artist Biography

    Urwerk

    Swiss • 1997

    The Swiss firm's name "Urwerk" is a play on the German word meaning clockwork. "Ur" is an ancient Sumerian city in which the populace used sundials for timekeeping, while "werk" is German for creation. The company started by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei is known for their innovative avant-garde designs inspired by space travel. With their own take on time indication, like many of their contemporaries, their futuristic timepieces are rooted in high-end traditional watchmaking. Their signature floating method of time indication using rotating satellites traces back to a watch made in 1656. Producing only 150 watches per year, they have impressed connoisseurs with their innovativeness and cutting-edge technical prowess.

    View More Works

142

Ref. UR 103.08
An early, highly unusual, and innovative titanium aluminum nitride-coated stainless steel wristwatch with three-dimensional satellite hour display, power reserve, guarantee, and presentation box

Circa 2007
50mm length x 36mm width
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.

Estimate
$25,000 - 50,000 
CHF22,700-45,400
€23,200-46,400
HK$195,000-391,000

Sold for $38,100

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
watchesny@phillips.com

Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: X

New York Auction 8 - 9 June 2024