Independents

At a nice little get together in Geneva this evening we got to see a working Urwerk UR-CC1 "in the flesh".
Inspired by a vintage Patek unique piece that shows the time in a linear display the UR-CC1 adds a spiral seconds display.

This automatic movement winds in one direction and has a "fan" which can be seen from one side to tame the winding action.  From the other side the lever controlling the minutes roller can be seen.  The indications are printed in Superluminova so reading should be simple under all lighting conditions.

This watch is slightly bigger than previous models in overall dimensions and significantly larger in volume as the case is more square shaped.  Despite this, the UR-CC1 seems to me to be less "freaky" than the other models as the case is a more normal shape and the display could hardly be easier to read.
Don

 

Full press release is in our News Central forum:  CLICK HERE

 

 

This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-07-08 08:04:01

of clothes.  Back to the Future - we have been here before in the 1970's and we are re-inventing the digital wheel on this one.  Sorry, but a waste of talent.  Bulky and for what purpose?  The DeBethune Digitale has a lightness of touch that makes it palitable .  The whole notion of mechanical watches forming a come back against the quartz was to show craftsmanship and artistry.  You can brand this a 'post-modern' take on the haute horologie of the twenty-first century, but in the same way that Opus 8 failed, so does this.  Simply not necessary when the job - ie telling the time from a digital display - can be accomplished in more straightforward manner with a technology more suited for the purpose.

Obviously my opinion and I am sure that there are others out there who will love it and take offense at my comment.  My apologies, but I have attempted to rationalize my thoughts on the matter in a coherent manner.

Andrew H

I think you're spot on Andrew. I'm sure the execution is, as always, excellent but I can't help but feel that this project is a little self indulgent of Martin or Felix, or both.

Dan

Honestly, I'm a tad bit dissapointed.  I'll take a 201-202 and a plain-Jane 103 any day over this new watch. 

I saw this on Felix's wrist at Basel - I was waiting for closer pics - and now a bit of dissapointment.   I agree - if I wanted my clock radio to tell me time.....

I think that we all expect alot from Felix and Martin these days.  The power of the 103 and 201/202 design was so overwhelming and so novel, its hard to hit double platinum every album.   Its a nice effort, but the design is not as "unique" as others. 

I imagine for the collector who like the 103 or 202 and thinks they are a bit over the top - this is the more "reserved" Urwerk of choice. 

With MB and F, MCT, Maiters du Temps, Hautilence, HD3, Etc etc - there are a good amount of independants who are taking a novel look at how to tell time in a unique way.  If this doesnt speak to us, there will be others that will....the beauty of it all. 

Good effort - not the best design.  I bet they sell out immediately! 

Best regards,

asg

On another forum -

This watch will only be made in a 50 piece series.  So, its going to be a one off run type thing. 
 Price - well, they speculated on the other site - If they are serious, I am going to find a new hobby. 

I truly believe either A. People dont know what to charge anymore for watches or B. I am working just that much harder to make a dollar and inflation is worse that being reported. 

I know that Urwerk brand has always been associate with bringing a new unique and modern haute horlogerie, and breaking the old concept of mechanical watch.
The 103 and 201 was a definite success.

Even though the 103 and 201 have some element of hyper-modern look and feel like the CC1, it display some serious mechanical engineering on the dial, and it creates the whole new uniqueness that no one ever thought about.
On the other hand, I personally look at the CC1 as being "trying too hard" to create a modern-spaceship watch, that result in making the whole look of the watch like a quartz, and not a mechanical engine anymore.

I personally think that this watch is a "love and hate" things, just like the Opus 8 and De gresigono Mechanica.

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First, allow me to applaud Felix, Thomas, and Martin with their latest creation. They've taken a daring move to make this watch. Although it isn't well accepted, I'd like to remind our members that Monet's Impressionist art wasn't well accepted at first neither. This new watch may seem strange to some of us, but it's art. And there will be someone who finds it attractive.

Remember the Patek Philippe Cobra? I can't say that's my favorite Patek Philippe; but I do have to give it credit because it was decades ahead of its time. Perhaps this Urwerk is from the future too; watches are all about time, who says time travel can't be a part of it?

patick,

Precisely......nobody remembers the Patek Philippe 'Cobra' 

So, can we take your vote as a "Maybe"? And the most points you give for being "daring"?

Regards, MTF

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ae the first 2 words that come to my mind.

Weird and Big came to my mind too....but what is your final vote?

Yes or No?  Remember it is your fantasy money we are risking now.........

MTF

The wrist shot – then is just a rather bad joke – gaudy, bulky and totally irrelevant in so many ways.

 

A pity from such an enlightened brand.

 

I'm a big fan of the 103 and 202 collections : definitely a watch I could buy someday.

But certainly not this one : I find the reading of the time less easy and less fascinating than the rotating parts
of their other models.

Emmanuel

This new one looks like an old radio from the 50ties...

You can choose your favourite station, but to read time...

Best,

Nicolas

In today’s world where no one is surprised by off beat designs and where you need to put rust on a watch to get talked about, the Urwerk team of Baumgartner and Frei have managed to create a time telling device which is not only ingenious but also comes with the WTF? effect.

 

Remember the reactions when we first saw the Antiqua, the HM1 and even the first 103 models? Today we consider them (almost) classics.

 

There is nothing worst IMO for niche brands such as Urwerk to be lauded continually by all because if that happens, it would mean that they are becoming mainstream and that’s a road they shouldn’t want to travel. They should continue surprising us with audacious designs and mechanics and this is what they have done with the CC1 and thank God this watch is not everyone’s cup of tea!

 

This is a pointless watch..........as haute horlogerie.

BUT it has merit as an engineering exercise or college project....How to make things complexed when simple is disallowed.

It is not easy to sing out of tune  --  perfectly  -- and so it is the same with microengineering.  It is difficult to make something complexed just for the sake of doing it.  They succeeded.

It ranks with the Tag-Heure V4, HWRT Opus 8 and MBF H1 for spectacular redundancy!   At least an Azimuth is cheap and can be tossed away after the laugh......

COUNTERPOINT:  Rich people who want to be different will grab these with alacrity.....it will be a commercial success, especially if self-styled PR "consultants"  also write for horology websites.

 

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2009-07-08 04:34:52

Thanks for the testimonial ;-)

...of this forum,you guys tend to bad mouth everything and everyone without having even the slightest idea on subject.
For example: 103 & 202 the classic models. since when ? those are still in production; geez, the classic models are the 101 and the 102.
And saying that CC1 is similar to the DeBethune Digital is just plain ignorant, the DeBethune is a jump-time watch,and the CC1 has a linear display, a totally different ball game.
The URWERK CC1 is what it is, an URWERK.
Although I am not active on this forum, I do read it when something good comes up, and from what I've seen you guys are a bounch of haters and it's about time someone call you for what you are.

Have a good time!

Dear goasia,

As a public forum, all polite views are received to provide  counter-checking weight.

It is good that you submitted your views so we can have a vibrant and broad community discussion. That is the point of this virtual "cocktail party".  Every product will have supporters and dissenters; as long as the intercourse is polite and respectful and in reasonable good taste, we do not expect unanimous praise or condemnation.

To redress the balance, those that like this watch should also tell everybody...why, what, how, etc..

Regards,

MTF 

 

and love that most everyone seems to dislike it!

polarbear1990,

 

Please confirm that you like this watch BECAUSE, so far by posting count, other people don't like it?

Then, it proves that is it's raison d'etre........

MTF

I actually love this watch.....feel bad already :-P
Ok.....at least I will share with you what I love about it.
In many ways, it is redundant as horology has advanced so much nowadays but
this design was inspired by a Patek Prototype 50 years ago and now manage to be realised by the URWERK team in
limited editions. This itself has a very strong appeal to some of us, a ultra futuristic watch base on a design 50 years ago which only till now
can only be admired in a museum.
I think this watch is an exercise as an hommage to watch history , which clearly showed that 'strange innovative' watches were already in existence but as
prototype. This reminds me of Buckminister Fuller's Dymaxion Car. How I wish someone actually produce some of them now
Lovesss*CL

..the Dymaxion is also an hommage/inspiration, to another aerodynamic automobile made by the Romanian engineer Aurel Persu and patented in 1924 in Germany (Ford an GM showed their interest in buying the patent,but didn't wanted to building the car, so Persu didn't sell it to them),the car had an engine built by Ferdinand Porshe,and it's this car that inspired him later to build the VW Kafer (Bug,Beetle) so think about that.
Sorry for the offtopic.

Thanks for the info.
*CL

CL,

As I replied to goasia in another sub-thread, fans can also write in.

Eventually, if we wait long enough, the "likers" will come out of the woodwork

What do you like about this watch, in response to the 'dislikers' comments about the size, shape, function, ergonomics?

 

Regards, MTF

 

I first know of 'this' watch when I saw a picture about the Patek prototype. I was fascinated by the imagination of that piece, especially during that era.
it was made before I was born so it intrigues me alot
I didn't know why Patek did not proceed to produce that piece, if you know, please share with us.
My vague guess is it looks too progressive and weird at that moment.
Currently, the market is flooded with many so called 'progressive' pieces that it looks quite ridiculous.
Very few of them know what's going on and very very few of them understand the power of good design. Martin is an excellent Designer and I do appreciate his asethetic sense. This watch is a hommage of that Patek piece, trying to bring it to the real world instead of keeping it in the museum.
It's an exercise for a talented watchmaker team, not a continuation of his 103, 201 series. Very similar to what Mr Journe did for Vagabontage.
Personally, I find the price very steep but I don't know enough if it's justifed. Innovation wise, it has been done before so I guess it's not a breakthrough but how many pieces nowadays really break new ground?
Design wise and looking it merely as a watch, I really love it. It's not a usual eye candy. I love how the time is read. The shape, the watch case, every bit makes our mundane urban life abit more exciting , abit more bearable to live in. It's probably only me, I find it a very dashing, romantic piece with an interesting story to tell.
It's not a weird watch for weird sake, that's what I like about it. Same as you , I really don't like MBF1 though I think MBF2 is better and the future MBF will even be greater. If MBF has a designer like Martin, I'm sure most MBF will be a stunner.

As for those who dislike this piece, many of them such as you and 219 (Andrew) are people I respect a lot in term of sensibility and opinions. I totally understand where
you are coming from and I agree in many ways but my heart just say ' I love it'
Love is indeed Blind...hahahhaa

Lovesss*CL