Urwerk's debut timepiece, the UR-101, was launched in 1997. Its dramatically transformed design makes a bold statement, showcasing textured, scaly armor across the bezel, sides, and lugs. While the organic guilloché pattern was traditionally hidden beneath a sapphire crystal, it is now fully exposed, inviting you to experience the craftsmanship firsthand. The new UR-101 T-Rex takes this to the next level with a striking bronze carapace.
The UR-101 becomes the third model in Urwerk’s collection to receive the T-Rex treatment. Its rounded design sparked a desire for transformation, offering the ideal canvas for the distinctive guilloché pattern. Upon closer inspection, the engraved grooves start at the crown, stretching along the entire case, gradually rising to the steep, curved slope that leads to the back. Each change in texture flows into the next in a beautiful, intricate progression. Limited to just 100 pieces, this UR-101 T-Rex, with its ergonomics inspired by the Millennium Falcon, is a perfect balance of form and function, surface and depth.
The UR-101 T-Rex boasts a 41mm diameter and a height of 11.86mm at its highest point. But it’s not just about the dimensions—how it feels when worn is what truly sets it apart. Its curved shape ensures a seamless fit, naturally sitting on the front of the wrist and nestling comfortably between two bones. The case’s asymmetry becomes evident, with the 12 o’clock side sitting slightly higher than the 7 o’clock side, thanks to the addition of a crown puller, or ‘spoiler,’ which improves handling. A nod to the original UR-101, this design detail further emphasizes the timepiece’s uniqueness.
The bronze case undergoes a multi-step process, first being guilloched before being oxidized and brushed. Over time, the case will evolve, with its brown hue deepening yet never turning green. This same transformation occurs inside the engraved scales and on the lugs, which are seamlessly integrated into the back of the UR-101 T-Rex, gently tilting the case. This geometric engraving pattern first appeared in 2016 on the UR-105 T-Rex and was later featured on the UR-100 T-Rex, further cementing its place in Urwerk’s legacy.
“It's a traditional guilloched dial pattern. We applied it to the entire surface of our case, right up to the edges. You can touch it. It has an animal, physical, almost visceral power. Bronze is a fabulous metal; it reacts to the touch. It is alive. It re-oxidizes as soon as it is scratched; this oxidation protects it and erases the traces of time. It is fascinating as if reacting like the skin’s natural regenerating process”. Urwerk Co-founder and artistic director Martin Frei.
The UR-101 T-Rex is a modern reinterpretation of an original Urwerk design, returning to the brand's roots. Equipped with two satellites, a 180-degree display, and a robust, snailed carousel, this movement offers a fresh take on Urwerk's iconic "wandering hours" complication. The development of the UR-1.01V calibre allows Co-founder and master watchmaker Felix Baumgartner to revisit the earliest Urwerk movements. This automatic movement, featuring wandering hours on two satellites, delivers a power reserve of 48 hours.
“Our original idea was a satellite time display. Making a carousel almost 150 times heavier than two hands move isochronically was our first challenge. It was in conjunction with Svend Andersen, my first watchmaking mentor, that we realized a Maltese cross was required to manage such a mechanism. And that was just the start of the challenges we have set ourselves ever since.” Urwerk Co-founder and Master Watchmaker Felix Baumgartner.
The strength of the Urwerk universe lies in the fusion of imagination. It’s the meeting point between Martin Frei’s and Felix Baumgartner’s worlds, blending their adult pop culture influences with the stories of their childhood and intertwining a range of cinematic, historical, and literary references. Urwerk’s concepts merge and coexist in a unique mash-up where cool meets underground. Drawing inspiration from dinosaur scales and the Millennium Falcon, as well as 18th- and 21st-century watchmaking—all filtered through the lens of the brand’s 25-year journey—this is the essence of Urwerk's distinctive style.
Urwerk is a name that evokes Ur, the Sumerian city; Urzeit, as in prehistory; Uhr, meaning time and clock; and Werk, the movement.
With the UR-101 T-Rex, Urwerk does not just tell time; it gives it shape and a voice—a roar. The new Urwerk UR-101 T-Rex is delivered on a black rubber strap with a black calfskin lining.
Sticker Price USD 45,000. For more info on Urwerk click here.
