Introducing the Urwerk UR-230 Eagle
URWERK's UR-230 Eagle takes flight in the UR-200 series with a blend of futuristic design and advanced mechanics. Share
The URWERK UR-230 “Eagle,” a new entrant in the URWERK UR-200 family, heralds an era of unparalleled mechanical innovation and aesthetic finesse. This limited series of 35 pieces embodies the pinnacle of URWERK’s engineering, blending a dual variable-geometry turbine, a double shock absorber, and a hybrid winding system into the UR-7.30 caliber. The “Eagle” not only signifies a technological leap but also undergoes a physical metamorphosis. It showcases a sleek CTP carbon case with a dynamic cover, alongside aerodynamic contours and a slim profile, mirroring the majesty of a bird of prey.
“It’s already been ten years since the success of the UR-220, we wanted to follow up with a creation featuring a strong personality”, explains URWERK co-founder and master watchmaker Felix Baumgartner. “The UR-230 “Eagle” focuses on performance. The turbines, which are one of our URWERK signatures, have been further improved. Today we are unveiling a model whose robustness has been boosted by technology.”
The UR-230 retains the unique display concept of its predecessor, the UR-220. This sophisticated iteration of URWERK’s revolving satellite complication features a three-armed carrousel, with rotating blocks displaying hours, gliding along a 120-degree sector. The minutes are shown on an aluminium 3D retrograde hand, which resets after 60 minutes to indicate the next hour. Martin Frei, URWERK’s artistic director, expresses pride in this latest addition, evolving the iconic series 200 into a new realm of elegance and power.
The UR-230 “Eagle” showcases innovative features, including a first-of-its-kind set of shock absorbers for the UR-7.30 caliber. The dual turbines serve dual purposes: one set cushions external impacts for enhanced robustness, while the other regulates airflow for the winding system. The wearer can adjust the winding power using a knob on the watch’s back, with a second switch to engage manual winding mode. These adjustments are visible through symmetrical indicators on the CTP carbon cover.
In terms of aesthetics, the UR-230 “Eagle” echoes the design language of the UR-200 series. Its trapezoidal shape, elongated towards the 6 o’clock position, and the clever interplay of angles, reinforce its URWERK identity. The case is crafted from CTP carbon, chosen for its optimal combination of weight, stiffness, and visual appeal. This carbon is intricately machined, displaying a controlled geometric pattern. The back, made from grooved and skin-friendly black DLC titanium, completes the case design.
A unique feature of the UR-230 “Eagle” is its cover, which lifts to 90 degrees, unveiling the intricate satellite system. This cover, designed to protect the sapphire crystal, posed numerous technical challenges, now ingeniously solved. The cover, a blend of CTP carbon and titanium, functions with a beak-shaped edge for easy lifting and a braking device for smooth closure. This intricate mechanism ensures the cover rests gently on the sapphire crystal, evoking the precision of an eagle seizing its prey.
