Urwerk UR-100V Magic T Review

What We Know

According to Urwerk, the new UR-100V "Magic T" represents the brand operating within the confines of minimalism. From a consideration of tone, texture, and color, the new and all-titanium UR-100V maximizes versatility by reducing the traditionally maximalist Urwerk concept to its component parts and relying upon the everyday charm – or magic – of titanium.

Part of Urwerk's growing 100 series, the UR-100V has a titanium case that measures 41mm across, 49.7mm top to bottom, and 14mm thick including its domed sapphire crystal. With a specific focus on legibility and finishing that speaks to the natural qualities of titanium, the UR-100V has been largely media blasted for a matte, modern, and entirely industrial effect.

Powering the UR-100V is the brand’s UR 12.02 automatic movement. With 48 hours of power reserve and a rate of 4 Hz, the movement is controlled via a crown set at 12 o'clock (or at least where 12 would be on a more conventional watch).

The brand's signature orbital wandering hour indication has been simplified within the 100 series and the UR-100V is easily read with a digital indication of the hour that quite literally points to the active minute. At the end of an hour, the next orbital display kicks off at zero. The indications are also fully luminous, which is undeniable fun.

Fitted to a full titanium bracelet, the UR-100V may be a more simple thing at a visual level, but Urwerk has included a few special flourishes that are both very uncommon and quite subtle. Tucked neatly into the left and right flanks of the satellite carrier are two special counters. One displays the distance traveled by the Earth along its own axis over the course of 20 minutes (555km, or ~345 miles) while the second shows the distance traveled by the Earth around the sun in the same 20 minutes (5,740Km or ~22,208 miles).

Essentially special scales set to integrate in 20 minutes increments with the motion of the wandering hours when they are not actively showing the time, Urwerk has presented these indications as nods to the UFO-like form of their watches and to the unconventional, often whimsical, nature of the brand.

Whimsy not withstanding, the Urwerk UR-100V "Magic T" carries a list price of CHF 58,000.

What We Think

Like many, I have always been curious about and delighted by Urwerk's watches, even if there is little chance that I'll ever be able to afford one to call my own. Personal finances aside, I think the UR-100V looks incredible and I would simply love to try one on my own wrist. For me, it's the use of titanium and the inclusion of the bracelet that completes the concept and does so in a way that I think wouldn't look out of place on my wrist, even just kicking around here on earth.

I love the largely monotone execution and, of course, the continued push to add luminous paint to just about any display. Like many of Urwerk's creations, the UR-100V finds an aesthetic footing somewhere between that of a cutting-edge fighter plane and the hypothetical spacecraft of some future place and time.

On a more practical level, I think that the sizing makes sense (at least on paper, I have no idea how it would actually wear) and that they've done a lovely job further evolving Urwerk's core talent into yet another interesting, detailed, and very fun watch.

The Basics

Brand: Urwerk
Model: UR-100V Magic T

Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 14mm
Case Material: 49.7mm
Dial Color: Black/titanium, skeletonized
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Titanium

The Movement

Caliber: UR 12.02 Selfwinding
Functions: Wandering hours, linear minutes, earth’s rotational distance at the equator in 20 minute increments, Earth’s orbital distance in 20 minute increments.
Power Reserve: 48 horus
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 40 hours

Pricing & Availability

Price: CHF 58,000

For more about Urwerk and the UR-100V Magic T, click here.

Urwerk