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URWERK Reveals UR-220 “Falcon Project”

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Independent watchmaker URWERK has now welcomed the UR-220 “Falcon Project” as the latest addition to the UR-Satellite collection.
Urwerk UR-220 Falcon Project Front Face
The URWERK UR-220 “Falcon Project” wandering hours watch. Credit: URWERK

After the recent release of the UR-210 “final edition,” independent Swiss watchmaker URWERK has now welcomed the UR-220 “Falcon Project” as the latest addition to the UR-Satellite collection.

Following on as part of the futuristic UR-2xxx series that saw the wandering hours complication in the UR-202, the addition of URWERK’s iconic “oil change” indicator and Horological Odometer (to track the number of years in use) in the UR-203 and the continuation of the movement in the UR-210, the UR-220 shares the same wandering hours design and has picked up the oil change indicator as well.

Urwerk UR-220 Falcon Project Side View
Use of a new rubber watch for the first time. Credit: URWERK

As a refresher, URWERK’s unique wandering hours design consists of three individually rotating cubes that also rotate clockwise. As an individual hour cube enters the lower “minute” half of the watch from the left-hand side of the watch face, the minute pointer jumps back in a fraction of a second to the start of the 60-minute scale, to begin the next hour.

Inspired by contemporary video science-fiction games, the only other indication on the black and radioactive green dial is that of the power reserve, displayed on two up/down gauges, each of 24 hours. When the movement is wound, the right-hand gauge reacts first. As soon as it shows 24 hours of power reserve, the left-hand gauge takes over.

Urwerk UR-220 Falcon Project Swiss Made
New font designed by Martin Frei with fluorescent green lettering. Credit: URWERK

While looking visually similar to the UR-210, the UR-220 is slimmer (14.8mm vs. 17.8mm ).

For the first time ever, URWERK has used a lightweight carbon for the case created by 81 layers of ultra-thin high resistance CTP (carbon thin ply) carbon compressed into a hard resin. Once compressed, the carbon block is machined to reveal patterns that emphasize the curves of the case.

Urwerk UR-220 Falcon Project Swiss Made Breakdown
All the compenents needed to make the URWERK UR-220. Credit: URWERK

“I wanted to have the finest possible pattern traced along the length of the UR-220’s case,” explains Martin Frei, URWERK’s co-founder. “We therefore needed a special kind of carbon in layers that are not only parallel but as thin as possible. The concentric pattern you can see on the surface of the UR-220 is the result of this choice. The carbon layers underscore the curves of the sapphire-crystal glass of this watch. In terms of style and technique this UR-220 is just the way I wanted it.”

Another element that has returned to the new model is the oil change indicator, which takes the shape of a numerical counter and indicates to the owner when the watch is due for its next “service.” To start the indicator’s running time, the owner must remove a security pin and press the push button to start the counter. Once it reaches 39 months, it’s time to return the watch to URWERK for an “oil change” where the watchmakers will also reset the counter to zero and replace the pin.

Urwerk UR-220 Falcon Project Case Back Oil Change
Oil Change feature to indicate when its time to service the watch. Credit: URWERK

“It’s more than a numerical counter making a cold tally of the months,” says Felix Baumgartner, URWERK’s co-founder. “The Oil Change indicator tells you how long your watch has actually been working on your wrist, and reflects the energy you have fuelled it with every day. It connects you with your watch.”

In another first for URWERK, the UR-220 features a rubber strap made from cured, molded, and Vulcarboné textured rubber, giving it a soft velvet-like texture.

Urwerk UR-220220 Falcon Project Watch
Powered by the URWERK caliber UR-7.20. Credit: URWERK

Powered by the URWERK caliber UR-7.20, the manual wound watch provides a power reserve of 48 hours.

The URWERK UR-220 is priced at CHF 145,000 (approx. USD$160,000) and available from URWERK.

Technical Specifications

Model: URWERK UR-220 “Falcon Project” Carbon Edition
Number: Limited Edition 25 pieces
Price: CHF 145,000
Made: Switzerland
Dimensions: 43.8 mm width; 53.6 mm length; 14.8 mm thickness
Power Reserve: 48 hours
Time Caliber: UR-7.20 manually wound
Materials: Carbon CTP (Carbon Thin Ply) – 81 layers
Strap: Vulcarbone cured rubber with black DLC buckle
Water Resistant: 30 meters (3 ATM/3 Bar)

Lifestyle

Breitling Releases Limited Edition Premier Chronograph in Burgundy

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Breitling releases Premier B09 Chronograph in a new burgundy color, limited to 250 pieces.
Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 Soldier Burgundy Side
The new Breitling Premier Chronograph in burgundy. Credit: Breitling

Breitling’s latest addition to the Premier Collection has flown relatively under the radar and is a limited edition B09 Chronograph in burgundy limited to 250 pieces.

First introduced in 1943 by Willy Breitling, the “everyday elegant” design of the Premier collection pays homage to three generations of inventors – Léon, Gaston & Willy Breitling – and embodies Breitling’s legacy of inventing the modern Chronograph.

Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 Soldier Burgundy Strap
Steel 40mm case with brown alligator strap. Credit: Breitling

Encased in a 40mm steel case, the new Premier B09 Chronograph features a burgundy colored sunburst dial with Arabic numerals and complementary brown chronograph subregisters in line with the heritage feel of the Premier collection.

Additional rectangular chronograph pushers and design details such as grooves on the case sides, open sapphire case backs and vintage-inspired hands complete the elegant Premier aesthetic.

Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 Soldier Burgundy Front
The new release will be limited to 250 pieces. Credit: Breitling

Powered by Breitling’s in-house B09 movement offering a power reserve of 70 hours, the new Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph Burgundy comes on a brown alligator strap and is limited to 250 pieces priced at US$8,400 each.

Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph 40 Soldier Burgundy Caseback
Caseback with limited edition engraving. Credit: Breitling
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Lifestyle

IWC Unveils New Portofino 39 Chronograph Trio

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The IWC Shaffhausen Portofino family has expanded with the addition of the new 39 Chronograph edition in three new colors.

IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph Watch Trio
The new IWC Portofino 39 Chronograph watch trio. Credit: IWC Shaffhausen

For over 30 years, IWC’s classic Portofino Collection has represented the laid-back lifestyle of the Mediterranean and is distinguished by its classic round case and uncluttered dial of the “pocket-watch-style wristwatch.”

IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph White Detail
Silvered dial with gold hands and markers. Credit: IWC Shaffhausen

Now IWC Shaffhausen has released the Portofino as a 39mm chronograph edition with three new colors: a silver-plated dial with gold hands and markers on a black alligator strap, a green dial with a green alligator strap and a black dial, and gold hands/markers on a brown alligator strap.

Enclosed in a polished stainless steel 39mm case, the Portofino 39 features an elegantly clean dial with delicate leaf-shaped hands and two smaller chronograph sub-dials displaying a 30 minute counter and a seconds subdial.

Along with the chronograph stopwatch functions, the Portofino 39s hacking seconds function also gives the wearer the ability to stop the second’s hand when the crown is pulled out to help synchronize time with a second watch.

Powering the Portofino 39 Chronograph is IWC’s 79350 self-winding movement (based on the modified Valjoux 7750) which offers a 44-hour power reserve.

The all-new IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph Collection is currently available online with prices starting at $5,900.

IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph Black Detail
Black dial with gold hands and markers. Credit: IWC Shaffhausen
IWC Schaffhausen Portofino 39 Chronograph Brown Strap
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Hublot Makes a Splash With New Big Bang Unico Summer

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Hublot is making a splash with the new turquoise New Big Bang Unico Summer edition available in select Mediterranean retail stores this Summer.
Hublot Big Bang Summer 441 UB 5120 Watch Life
The new Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer edition limited to 200 pieces. Credit: Hublot

Hublot is celebrating the warmer weather with the creation of a new turquoise-colored unisex Big Bang Unico Summer edition.

Made with a 42mm aluminum case, the lightweight Big Bang Summer uses anodized satin-finished and polished aluminum to create a modern colored material that guarantees longevity and protects it from scratches.

The lagoon colored Big Bang Unico Summer on the rubber strap. Credit: Hublot
The lagoon colored Big Bang Unico Summer on the rubber strap. Credit: Hublot

Powered by the UNICO caliber HUB1280 offering a 72-hour power reserve, the new Big Bang Unico Summer features an oscillating seconds clutch, a chronograph friction system with ball-bearing adjustment, and a column wheel that is visible through the dial.

Equipped with Hublot’s patented interchangeable “One Click” attachment system, the Big Bang Unico Summer comes with two turquoise-colored straps: a Velcro strap with matching stitching and matching sports buckle and a natural rubber strap with deployant clasp made with turquoise anodized aluminum with an engraved logo.

Anodized satin-polished case and buckle are hard-wearing and scratch resistant. Credit: Hublot
Anodized satin-polished case and buckle are hard-wearing and scratch resistant. Credit: Hublot

Sharing on the inspiration for the new Big Bang Unico Summer, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe says, “What I love most when traveling is the amazement of the return, wrote Stendhal. This enchantment of the journey that we bring back with us transforms us a little, for the better… And even if daily life has not really changed on our return, our eyes being open to other horizons is enough to lend it new colour.”

“Right from its beginnings, Hublot has adopted a future-focused approach to watchmaking, sparking trends through the many patents it has filed for its innovations. The Big Bang Unico Summer embodies the beauty of our summer experiences. We wanted to give you another shade for this year, to let you relive these magic moments any time you want.”

Priced at US$20,900, the new unisex Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer is limited to 200 pieces and will be available online at hublot.com and in the Mediterranean boutiques in Capri, Forte dei Marmi, Mykonos, Ibiza, Bodrum, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco.

Hublot Big Bang Summer 441 UB 5120 Front
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