Transcending space and time: URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture I

Introducing episode one of the new URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture line, a celebration of the ingenuity of ancient cultures in the impossible mission of transcribing the intangible – the passing of time.

Ancient Wisdom Celebrated in a Modern Presentation

The new URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture line pays tribute to how ancient cultures measured and recorded time. Dedicated to the perceptions of time through different ages and cultures, the new line of UR-100V is a journey through space-time, materialised by combining indications expressed in minutes and kilometres across different cultures and locations.

“This line is about History, Cultures, our place beneath the stars, the research and observations that have been conducted around the world using the same sky above our heads as a source of knowledge. I am always fascinated to see that these unique observations, made thousands of kilometres away, have given birth to a universal language, that of time”, Martin Frei, URWERK co-founder.

URWERK UR 100V Time And Culture Case Details

URWERK UR 100V Time And Culture I Time Indication

Transcending Space and Time

The year is approximately 1479. We are in Central America, looking at the monolithic sculpted disc that is the “Sun Stone”. The first episode of the UR-100V Time and Culture collection is based on this famous Mexica sculpture depicting the Aztec calendar.

The intricate patterns of the Sun Stone form the basis of the details on the UR-100V Time and Culture I. The intricate engravings are made using a 0.05mm-thin point milling cutter, resulting in cuts that are exquisitely delicate. The satin-brushed ridge lines of the motif contrast against the velvety micro-sandblasted hollows. It is a work that needs to be admired under a loupe to fully appreciate its precision.

URWERK UR 100V Time And Culture I Detailed Engraving On Closed Case Dome

The Planetary Turbine Of The URWERK UR 100V Time And Culture I

Hours and Kilometres – the Same Scale of Value

A new piece of information is added to the usual hours and minutes display. Every hour, the minute hand disappears and reappears as a kilometre counter. Based on the average speed of the Earth’s rotation in Mexico City, illustrate the 524.89 kilometres covered every 20 minutes by any person located in Mexico. On the opposite side, the Earth’s revolution around the sun is displayed – 35.742 kilometres per 20 minutes. Hence hours and kilometres share the same scale of value. The idea for this added dimension was put forward by SJX three years ago to Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, and represents how relics created by people are those special items that transcend space and time.

“We have sprinkled our work with hidden references. The discerning eye will be able to make out a signature, an acronym, a Mayan numbering to be deciphered.  It’s a real treasure hunt.”  Felix Baumgartner, URWERK co-founder.

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