Urwerk

The UR-102 has a special place in the history of Urwerk, together with another early model, the UR-101, both of which were launched in 1997, the same year the brand was founded. The idea for wristwatches with a wandering hour complication was born earlier, in friendly discussions between Felix Baumgartner, a promising young watchmaker, and Martin Frei, an industrial designer who later founded the brand. The idea was born in 1995 as an attempt to offer a clear alternative to modern, complex mechanical watches with cluttered dials and numerous displays and hands. From the very beginning, Urwerk developed the design for the wandering hours complication. The special feature of this complication is the wandering hour numeral that runs along the scale and indicates the minutes, i.e. the dial of the watch has no hands and only takes up a small part of the upper part of the case. The caliber with a laconic time display was installed in an equally laconic, perfectly round, lenticular case (UR-102) or in a case whose shape is best described by the model’s nickname “Millennium Falcon” (UR-101). Production of the UR-101 and UR-102 models, which were equipped with such a time display, lasted no longer than six years before the new flagship UR-103 was launched in 2003. Quillandpad.com mentions that production of the UR-101 in yellow gold and the UR-102 in stainless steel began in 1998, with the UR-102 in stainless steel being the best-selling. The steel-cased UR-102 was named “after the first Soviet satellite “Sputnik” to emphasize its retro-futuristic design and to create a contrast with the UR-101 model nicknamed “Millennium Falcon”, whose shape is reminiscent of a “Star Wars” spaceship. In addition to the stainless steel and gold models, the UR-102 with a grey-blue colored ceramicized aluminum case was produced in a limited edition of 25 pieces, while the UR-101 in black ceramicized aluminum, known as the UR-101 Nightwatch, accounts for around 15 pieces (as Acollectedman informs us).

This UR-102 represents the earliest period in the development of the Urwerk brand. Together with its sister model, the UR-101, this watch proved to be a happy idea that became the foundation for this brand, which is one of the undisputed pioneers of the independent watchmaking movement and small creative brands. The wandering hour complication, of which numerous versions have since been designed, is perceived as the alter ego of the Urwerk brand. Therefore, this Urwerk UR-102 ‘Sputnik’ ‘Blue Dial 7.5-Minute Markings’ is an excellent opportunity to own an iconic model from the brand’s earliest and, as we now know, very significant period. This offer is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire the UR-102. This watch is numbered 13 and can be considered a lucky charm thanks to this special number, which only adds to the appeal of this watch.