Independents

Do the cases on Urwerk get overlooked? I hear so much praise in certain parts of our watch world for cases made by so and so case maker or manufacture. Or that such and such case maker is now making cases for brand X and how this is such a significant cha...  

My 202 in black platinum is the strangest watch I own but the case finishing and complexity of design is executed at the very highest level. ...  

They may be the only ones who have ever done this. The way the case reflects the light is mesmerizing

It's one of the most beautiful watches the brand offers... The case is fantastic, it feels nuanced and modern

It was the nuanced aspect I was getting at. There’s a lot of detail in this case, and I don’t know if people give that the credit it may deserve. And then there’s the design. As Patrick mentions below that is probably just too polarizing to get the true o... 

It’s likely they are in large part because as you say the design is not everyone’s taste. It’s easier to gush over a classic case shape, with classic lugs etc.

There a futuristic and quirky sometimes but thats why i like them so much ...  

Not to those who have bought into the brand, but for the general watch world.

The main reason why Urwerk is so overlooked is because it's an extremely polarizing brand. Very few people know of it. And the ones who've seen it either get no reaction (they say, "it's nice, but might not be for me") or they get a huge reaction and real... 

Urwerk is one of those brands you either hate or love not a lot of in between. I personally fall into the latter group. I think they are innovative and unique and carry an heir of you are only limited by your imagination. Sort of the things we grew up bel...  

They borne of childish imagination, in the best possible way.

Honestly, even the Patek Philippe Nautilus was a polarizing watch when it came out. It wasn't universally liked. But back then, people bought what they liked, and they weren't influenced by social media. Today, everyone likes the Patek PHilippe Nautilus b... 

The same for the Frog. I think we are not understanding enough or appreciating enough these cases.

Especially among the modern day independent watchmakers. Too much emphasis on movement finishing these days, in my opinion.

I'm one of those people who've been focused on movement finishing ever since I liked watches. I remember looking at the movement of a JLC as a teenager and saying to myself - I really like the Reverso's art deco style, but I wished those bridges were poli... 

Although I own all of the Loupe Systems from when such things were more important to me haha

But perhaps not as important as before. Now. I want to meet with artists. Discovering artists with a truly special product that is inimitable is my latest mission objective. Why own something mass produced when you can own something that’s a one off.

…never mattered to me, I don’t see the point of it beyond a certain level as most of the time it’s not something I can see (the watch is on my wrist). However, if one has something like the AK-06 or a Logicial One or Micro Rotor from Gauthier and watches ... 

Every watch needs to be evaluated individually. Gauthier’s finishing is definitely a larger part of the package than for other watches. But Gauthier shines also in movement architecture and case design. He’s one of the more talented case designers out the... 

And determines whether or not it stays there for a period of time. That and the bracelet. Although i’m digressing here as i am talking now more about case design from a comfort pov rather than aesthetics. For example, how many times have we read comments ... 

That’s a good point, and I couldn’t agree more. But I do think that the reason this may be true is because they all look very similar. It takes an outlier, like we have here, to get one thinking about cases and the work that goes into them. Your next trip... 

So many different case manufacturers! And brands should talk more about their cases too - they seem to focus too much on just the movement.

How? When we met in NYC several years ago (concerning a certain Lange 😉) and you wore this and let me hold it. Not only was it infinitely detailed but it felt like a tank in my hand as if it were bullet proof! So hefty and substantial. The unique looks/de... 

I think I told you but it was maybe 6 or 7 years between me being Urwerk curious and actually pulling the trigger. I was waiting for the one that felt right on my wrist, being a little conscious of the size and unusual case and design I wanted to be doubl...