To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Urwerk has unveiled its new creation, the UR-105 CT Streamliner. Inspired to New York, a town that Urwerk founders Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner are in love with, the UR-105 CT Streamliner shows several Art Deco influences in its geometric angularity and symmetry.
As Martin Frei explains, “the Streamliner has a minimalist design with few frills and clean lines. In the initial drawings, I thought of the Empire State, the Chrysler, and the Comcast buildings. That is why it has that vertical structure that seems to go on forever.”
Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner Watch
You have to slide the catch on the top of the case (whose size is 39.5 x 53 x 17.3 mm) to reveal the mechanism of the UR-105 CT. It’s a new wandering hour indication based on an openwork carousel, which carries the four satellites, each bearing three numerals for the hours. This carousel has been completely redesigned, becoming lighter, stronger and far more effective. The hours successively sweep past the minutes scale for an analogue and digital display of the time.
Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner Watch
A power-reserve indicator and digital seconds make up the rest of the information displayed on the dial. The digital seconds are remarkable in that they indicate tens of seconds. The mechanism was made using a photolithographic process, with each marker openworked to make it as light as possible. Each marker weighing a tenth of a gram.
Two pneumatic turbines on the back govern the selfwinding rate, which can be set with a lever. In the FULL position, the slightest movement of the wrist is harnessed to rewind the barrel spring. Turn the lever to STOP to disengage the selfwinding system and wind up the UR-105 using the crown.
Urwerk UR-105 CT Streamliner Watch
An intermediate position, RED (for reduced) engages the turbines to dampen the winding rotor and avoid overstressing the mainspring, if you are particularly active. Beating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vph), the movement guarantees a power reserve of 48 hours.
The UR-105 CT Streamliner is available in two versions, both very URWERK: a full-grey titanium and mirror-polished steel version, only enlightened by one or two red accents, and a titanium and black PVD coated steel model with the usual bright yellow accents all around the dial. Both will carry a price of 65,000 CHF.
