The incredible UR-105 T-Rex is an extinct-reptile-inspired bronze creation using forced oxidation to create a dramatic patina on the surface, while the insides and the rear of the case remains crisp, black, and new as one would expect from Urwerk. My initial response was ‘whoa,’ but among observers there was no middle ground: the Urwerk UR-105 T-Rex is polarizing.
On the wrist is a diamond-set Urwerk UR-106, but what’s going on with the Vulcan finger meld? Might it be Urwerk’s latest winding system with power transferred through finger tips? What do you think is happening in this photo? Leave your fun, funny, or sarcastic caption in the comments!
Bronze, a copper-and-tin alloy some have described as “living” due to its beautiful way of patinating, seems to be making something of a comeback, which is certainly thanks to the beauty of the material. Is it becoming a trend? You can answer for yourself as here we show you five bronze watches we found at Baselworld 2016.
Post-SIHH reports indicate that the inclusion of the so-called indies was a big success for both visitors and the small brands alike, but also that there was a little grumbling from some of the large established SIHH brands generated by the fact that visitors to the fair remarked − with justification − that there were more interesting watches in the Carré des Horlogers than in the rest of the SIHH altogether. What can the industry learn from their inclusion in 2016’s first fair?
It’s already been six consecutive years that I’ve had the delightful experience of going through SIHH week with several of my closest friends. Our closing discussions centered around four questions, which were focused more tightly on SIHH itself this year due to the inclusion of nine independent watchmakers: what watch did you think was best of show at SIHH? What was the worst watch of the show? What watch displayed at the show would you buy if money were no object? What watch did you see on display that would you buy with your own money?
The original EMC was designed from the outset to be a platform for validating Urwerk’s mechanical/electronic hybrid concept; to be a technical instrument rather than a full-fledged conventional wristwatch.
But EMC2 now looks like a wristwatch. I still wouldn’t call it pretty, not while sober anyway, but “good looking in a macho way” isn’t so much of a stretch.
It’s kind of a Christmas present, isn’t it? Right now I’m wearing this gorgeous little piece of Urwerk UR-106 horological technology and will be publishing an in-depth review in a few weeks. But for now, I just want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an interesting and seasonal view of this little Christmas present as much as I do.
The Urwerk EMC Pistol, an extremely limited edition of just five pieces, features a very intricate mix of hand-engraved artistry and groundbreaking technology. The EMC Pistol is an edition of the watch that closes the EMC line, which is really a test bed for the hybrid technology inside rather than a fully finished wristwatch.
The Saatchi Gallery on Kings Road in trendy Chelsea has played host to SalonQP in London for the past four years. It is a fantastic venue and a great place for the brands attending to showcase their wares.
What an eclectic mix of brands and watches on show this year, too! Come with me on a virtual tour.
In the early 1990s, I was facing the same dilemma as today: should I buy modern or vintage? The problem was that the modern watches actually all looked vintage, right down to the sizes. There was something lacking, and watch shopping at times almost felt like perusing the yogurt section in a Soviet supermarket.
I’m obviously exaggerating here, but in general it seemed to me that creativity was more or less an afterthought.
Enter Vianney Halter in 1998 with the Antiqua Perpetual. And then what happened next: the birth of ICH (“independent creative horology”).