New Release
Jay (Eire) introduces the Urwerk 105-CT TTH, highlighting its distinctive tantalum case and limited production run. His initial assessment positions this iteration as a standout within the 105-CT series, offering a collector's perspective on its material choice and potential market impact. This post serves as a valuable record of a significant release from an independent horology brand.
Well, as we would expect another 105-CT from Urwerk, changing up the case materials as we’ve seen with other iterations.
This time, Tantalum. Many of us here are suckers for Tantalum, myself included, and my biased opinion on this would be it just rocks. I love it, this is THE 105-CT to own.
It’s a limited run of 12 pieces, and from what I understand will mark the end of this model. Urwerk have limited bandwidth, by design, and so retiring models is part of the juggling of production capacity.
A quote from Martin Frei, co-founder of Urwerk, in the press pack:
“Tantalum is a very special metal. Its name comes from Tantalus, one of Greek mythology’s bad boys. Tantalum is precious, rare, and extremely painful to machine and finish. We made an UR-110 out of tantalum a few years ago – a first that almost was the last. The team made me promise never to use it again because tantalum ‘eats’ our CNC machines’ bits. It destroys them, reducing their life by a factor of three. But I love its blue-gray luster. Pure magic!”
Here are some pictures (credit: Urwerk).
Look at that Tantalum goodness !
The UR-110, known as the "Torpedo," represents a significant evolution in Urwerk's satellite time display architecture. It departs from the earlier UR-200 series by introducing a new configuration where the three rotating hour satellites are mounted on planetary gears, which in turn orbit a central carousel. This design allows the hour indicators to remain parallel to each other as they traverse the minute track on the right side of the case, offering a distinct visual and mechanical interpretation of time. The model is characterized by its asymmetrical case and the prominent minute track.
The watch features a mechanical self-winding movement, the UR-9.01, which provides a substantial power reserve. The case is typically constructed from a combination of materials, often titanium for the main body with a contrasting bezel material. The crystal is sapphire, providing durability and clarity for viewing the complex display. The case dimensions are notable for their presence on the wrist, reflecting the brand's design philosophy.
For collectors, the UR-110 is a key reference that showcases Urwerk's commitment to unconventional timekeeping and advanced mechanical engineering. It appeals to those interested in horological innovation and a departure from traditional watchmaking aesthetics. The model has been produced in various material combinations and finishes, each offering a unique character within the UR-110 series, solidifying its place as a distinctive piece in contemporary independent watchmaking.
What's the button on the back for, does it actually work?
But, that’s a bit out of my price range!!!!
That said, the G Wagon market seems to be like the watch market these days. It always held decent value I think but it seems even more so these days.
Wonder why titanium is engraved on the case back? Could it be to give the CNC machine a rest?
of my budget. Maybe need a HoMe thread of only Tantalium watches?
Tantalum and Urwerk just seems like such a combo... Can’t wait to see it in person. Cheers Peter
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