Urwerk Unveils the UR-111C TT
The typical watch has a circular dial, centre-mounted hands and a right-hand crown to adjust the time. Urwerk on the other hand is far from typical. For 20 years now, the Swiss-based independent watch maker has been releasing watches that look and function like nothing else on the market.
Urwerk UR-111C TT – the newest addition to the UR-111C Collection
Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei – the duo behind Urwerk – are renowned in the industry for rethinking how to communicate time. Their creations force people to look at time differently; showing us there’s an alternative way than what we’ve had ingrained in us since childhood.
‘TT’ stands for Two-Tone
Urwerk have continued to challenge our preconceptions of time with the release of the UR-111C TT – a new variation of the UR-111C. Originally designed in the style of a driving watch, this configuration allows the wearer to glance at the time without having to take their hands off the steering wheel. First launched in stainless steel, and later black-PVD; this newest variation draws on the previous two, and features a black-PVD body, flanking a stainless steel centre.
Interested in the UR-111C TT? Drop us a line here
UR-CC1 “King Cobra”
Ultramodern and industrial, with subtle nods to Streamline Moderne (an variation of Art Deco), the UR-111C TT is a direct descendant of the Urwerk UR-CC1 “King Cobra”, which (and this is where the history gets more interesting) in turn takes inspiration from a highly unusual Patek Philippe from 1958.
Pan Pacific Auditorium that once stood on West Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles – a prominent example of Streamline Moderne architecture
The watch by Patek Philippe was a prototype piece named Cobra, designed by Louis Cottier to be the first ever wristwatch with a linear time display. The Patek Philippe Cobra never went into production; possibly due to the technical challenges in manufacturing the movement. However, it did inspire Urwerk to take up the challenge of making a watch with such a display, half a century later. The ‘CC’ in ‘Urwerk UR-CC1’ name stands for Cottier Cobra, a fitting homage to the ambition of the original designer.
The original 1958 Cobra
Reading from left to right, the UR-111C TT features a cone-shaped display for jumping hours, a central barrel that rotates to show linear minutes, and a right-hand cone display for digital minutes. There is also a designated aperture displaying the running seconds and an innovative cylindrical roller, that both winds and sets the watch.
Despite an aesthetic that takes inspiration from the past, the UR-111C TT has its feet firmly planted in the future, with brightly contrasting numerals, case finishing and a utilitarian strap that communicates a very Blade Runner-esque aesthetic.
Lifting the hood on the original Urwerk UR-111C from 2018
The futuristic design complements the innovative materials used: including the first-ever watchmaking use of a fused optical fibre image conduit, that acts to magnify the seconds display in the place of a more traditional “Cyclops” lens. A hi-tech solution to an old watchmaking problem – something Urwerk has built their name on.
Second in line, the Urwerk UR-111C Black was introduced in 2019
Inside ticks an in-house developed and built self-winding calibre with jumping hours, retrograde linear minutes, digital minutes, digital seconds and 48 hours of power-reserve. As you would expect, all surfaces are superbly finished with circular graining, sanding, Côtes de Genève and polished screw heads found throughout. The UR-111C TT measures 42mm wide by 46mm long and 15mm thick. Limited Edition of 25 pieces.
Interested in the UR-111C TT? Drop us a line here
Exploded view
