Regardless of adhering to a definitively futuristic and virtually sci-fi-feeling aesthetic, Urwerk attracts its inspiration from quite a lot of totally different sources, and the model’s newest launch of 2024 is impressed by the scorpion. Technically thought of arachnids (slightly than bugs) resulting from their fourth pair of legs that perform as claws, scorpions are well-known for his or her lengthy and menacing tails, which ship a venomous injection by way of a razor-sharp stinger positioned on the tip. Introduced as a duo of 50-piece restricted editions, the Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion represents an evolution of the Swiss model’s signature design ethos, and it encompasses a easy dome-shaped case with a brand new satellite tv for pc show system that’s impressed by the dramatic arc and lightning-fast movement of a scorpion’s tail.
Whereas Urwerk produces watches in an unlimited vary of various case profiles, the brand new UR-150 Scorpion might finest be described as a extra rounded model of the model’s basic UR-100 sequence, and all the higher profile of its case follows the identical curved line that’s established by its domed sapphire crystal. Moreover, 4 screws seem on the corners, and so they prolong by way of the whole lot of the case to safe the display-style caseback, and the signed crown recessed into the 12 o’clock facet of the case screws down to assist guarantee 50 meters of water resistance. The perimeters of the UR-150’s case obtain vertical grooves (much like what could be noticed on the model’s UR-100 fashions), whereas recessed sections seem adjoining to them alongside the lugs, and hooked up throughout the recessed part on the higher left facet of the case is a small badge that denotes every model as a restricted version of fifty examples.
On the time of launch, the brand new Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion is being provided in two colorways often known as Titan and Darkish. Whereas each fashions are constructed from titanium and chrome steel parts which have been completed with sandblasted or shot-blasted surfaces, the case of the Titan mannequin showcases its pure blasted-titanium end, whereas the Darkish model options an anthracite (virtually black) PVD coating. Equally, whereas the Titan colorway showcases matte grey hues all through the parts of its satellite tv for pc show, the darkish model options these identical components in black to additional lean into the “darkish” idea of the mannequin. When it comes to its dimensions, the Urwerk UR-150 measures 42.49mm huge by 52.31mm lug-to-lug, with an total thickness of 14.79mm, and for the reason that complete higher profile of its case follows the identical fluid curve as its crystal, the UR-150 guarantees to extra intently hug the wrist in comparison with the extra angular instances of its UR-100 siblings.
Much like its case, the carousel-mounted show system contained in the Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion represents an evolution of what exists throughout the model’s UR-100 fashions, and it encompasses a trio of orbiting satellites that monitor the hours, whereas the minutes are represented by an arc-shaped scale alongside the periphery of the show. Nevertheless, the minutes show on the brand new UR-150 is twice the scale of what could be discovered on the model’s UR-100 fashions, and its massive skeletonized retrograde minute hand strikes a full 240 levels alongside the decrease portion of its show, with an arrow-shaped tip framing the present hour. On the Titan model of the UR-150 Scorpion, the tip of the minute hand is inexperienced, whereas it’s completed pink on the Darkish mannequin, and on the high of every hour, the minute hand snaps again to zero and the hour satellites spin 270 levels on their axes to show the following worth, all in simply 1/a hundredth of a second.
To attain the lightning-fast reset of its minute hand, the retrograde mechanism contained in the Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion encompasses a design that’s considerably reminiscent of what’s used for mechanical automatons, and its three satellites are mounted on a flying carousel that follows an hour-long movement ruled by a cam. Moreover, as a result of bigger path of its movement, making a easy return of the retrograde minutes show requires the exact management of considerably larger forces, and the UR-150’s retrograde mechanism features a pace regulator fitted to its flywheel, which has similarities to how minute repeaters management their chiming sequences. Because of the bigger dimension of its minutes show and the best way that its skeletonized hour hand partially covers the satellites that aren’t actively displaying the present hour, the UR-150 advantages from a noticeably extra legible show in comparison with different Urwerk fashions, but it places on an much more dramatic mechanical efficiency on the high of every hour.
Powering the Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion is the model’s Caliber UR-50.01 automated motion, which runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with an influence reserve of roughly 43 hours. Along with that includes a retrograde minutes show and the model’s signature carousel-mounted satellite tv for pc hours system, the 38-jewel Urwerk Cal. UR-50.01 consists of a sophisticated model of the model’s self-winding system, and it incorporates a pair of generators that regulate the rotor’s pace and take in impacts. The general look of the generators seems to be a double model of the Propeller-shaped “Windfänger Airscrew” that may be discovered on different Urwerk calibers, and along with regulating the motion’s winding pace, the dual-turbine design additionally goals to soak up shocks to the rotor and forestall them affecting the arbor.
Other than describing it as a “KISKA rubber strap” on each the press launch and its web site, Urwerk doesn’t present any information concerning the strap that’s fitted to the UR-150 Scorpion, and the product images of the watch supply little extra perception about its design, as none of them depict the whole lot of the strap or its clasp. That stated, similar to the Urwerk’s UR-100 fashions, the strap for the brand new UR-150 asymmetrically attaches to its case, and whereas the 6 o’clock facet options considerably of a standard type of lug system, the 12 o’clock facet is notched within the middle to accommodate the winding crown that’s positioned on the highest of its case. Moreover, whereas the outside of the strap encompasses a cloth texture and a segmented design that’s vaguely harking back to the scales on a scorpion, the inside floor seems to be hollowed out to maximise airflow and enhance consolation on the wrist.
Each the Titan and Darkish variations of the Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion might be produced as restricted editions of fifty items every, and whereas the Titan mannequin has an official retail value of $103,000 USD, the Darkish model is priced at $105,000 USD, with the extra premium being as a result of anthracite PVD coating that’s utilized to its case parts. Though the UR-150 Scorpion prices noticeably greater than most of Urwerk’s customary UR-100 fashions, it’s hardly the model’s costliest timepiece, and along with providing a extra fluid and elaborate case structure, the UR-150 Scorpion additionally encompasses a extra superior inside motion that represents the following era of the model’s signature carousel-mounted satellite tv for pc show system. For extra info on the Urwerk UR-150 Scorpion, please go to the model’s web site.
