Urwerk Goes Beyond The Perceivable Colour Spectrum With The UR-100V UltraViolet

Despite all our senses being essential to us, it is our eyesight that stands out above and beyond. The perception of colour, depth, movement and much more seems virtually unlimited but in fact, is quite restricted. movement can become so fast that we cannot keep up with it visually. Even depths can become so deep we lose a sense of reality altogether. And with colour, our perceivable spectrum ends at a violet-purple tone. Anything beyond that is out of reach for us, turning into a waveform we can no longer detect. Urwerk channels a colour that sits right on the border of the dimension we call colour, with the Urwerk UR-100V UltraViolet.

The Urwerk UR-100 range was first presented in 2019 and updated into the UR-100V about a year later. Through models like the UR-100V CV52, UR-100V Blue Planet and UR-100V T-Rex Urwerk has experimented with a multitude of materials, finishings and colours. The UR-100V UltraViolet combines all three in a very captivating style, that’s surely not for everyone but captivating nonetheless.

The UR-100V UltraViolet uses the 41mm by 49.7mm by 14.0mm titanium case we’ve seen numerous times before. This has been sanded and shot-blasted for a unique finish, before being coated in a violet DLC coating. The dimensions certainly indicate this is a pretty sizable watch, but it is constructed as such to keep it relatively in check when on the wrist. In fact, judging by the UR-100V’s we handled ourselves, it wears comparable to many pilot’s or chronograph watches. The crown is positioned between the lugs at 12 o’clock, something Urwerk regularly does in its watches. A second sapphire crystal, a flat one this time though, covers the full rotor that drives the movement.

The display of the UR-100V UltraViolet has not changed, other than the obvious shift to purple. The time is displayed with three rotating satellites with 4 hours on a disc per satellite. When one satellite has completed the curved track at the bottom end of the “dial” the next satellite and hour disc starts its one-hour journey. The markings are done in white and yellow, contrasting against the violet backdrop. Additional indications are placed in the top left and top right corner of the display, with the left one indicating the earth’s rotation and the right one indicating the earth’s revolution around the sun, both on a 20-minute scale. (fully explained here).

All this is driven by the complex calibre UR12.02, (somewhat) visible from the backside of the watch. Urwerk redesigned the carousel system for this movement to display the hours and minutes closer together (an update over the Calibre UR-12.01 found in the regular UR-100 models). Parts of the movement are constructed from ARCAP, a non-magnetic non-ferrous material. Power comes from the full central rotor with drilled holes, oscillating weights and a windfänger regulating airscrew. This movement uses 40 jewels, beats at a rate of 28,800vph and has a maximum power reserve of 48 hours.

The Urwerk UR-100V UltraViolet is presented as a limited edition (no mention of the number of pieces yet) and is worn on a textured white rubber strap with a titanium pin buckle. Retailing for CHF 55,000 before taxes, it is one of the most expressive iterations of the UR-100V collection to date. Surely something different, but befitting to the already unconventional world of Urwerk.

For more information, please visit Urwerk.com