URWERK Reveals UR-220 “Falcon Project”

Independent watchmaker URWERK has now welcomed the UR-220 “Falcon Project” as the latest addition to the UR-Satellite collection.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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)