The flight from Munich to Geneva was canceled on that day. I caught a train and still made it on time for the first appointment. This UR-102 “Reloaded” was the first thing I saw in Geneva when I arrived at the Urwerk workshop directly from the railway station. I was immediately in love with this piece (it doesn’t happen that often). It might look very odd to many, but it’s actually the most classical-looking Urwerk you can find, and it’s very special for the brand.
In 1997, Urwerk introduced its inaugural timepiece, the UR-102, at Baselworld. This marked the outset of the brand’s remarkable journey in watchmaking. This year, Urwerk has revived this significant piece, presenting the UR-102 Reloaded. While the UR-102 may appear relatively simplistic in design compared to the brand’s contemporary creations, it has one very distinctive feature – an arched window that displays the time without conventional hands, showcasing the wandering hour system.
“The UR-102 is more than a symbol. It represents my entry into the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants). It embodies the first collaboration with Martin Frei, our first steps into the world of fine watchmaking, our first dreams of independence.”
Felix Baumgartner, master watchmaker and co-founder of URWERK.
The new UR-102 “Reloaded” has grown in strength and size. It is now a respectable 41 mm in diameter compared to the 38 mm of its original version. Its size may have changed, but it remains as visually pleasing as ever. Its crown now merges into the case, having made a strategic move to 4 o’clock. Its lugs are larger, recalling the attachments on the Sputnik space satellite: solid, angular and designed to ideally position the “machine” on the wrist. The font of the hours and minutes markers has been redesigned, with new information appearing on the dial. UR-102 “Reloaded” thus embodies a smoothly nuanced revolution.
Inside the watch is the automatic calibre 2.02, which is an ETA-based movement with Urwerk’s own wandering hours module. The power reserve is 48 hours.
The UR-102 “Reloaded” was presented in a boxed set containing two UR-102s, one in titanium and the other in black PVD-treated steel. It’s a 25-piece limited series, priced at CHF 56,000 (Swiss francs/excl. tax). At the time of the release, it was sold only as a set of 2 watches, but I heard that later it will also be available separately. More details about Urwerk on www.urwerk.com
