Urwerk continues its exploration of time across civilizations and today unveils an extraordinary piece: the UR-100V Time & Culture III. This one-of-a-kind piece is the result of an unprecedented artistic collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker and David Kakabadze Studio in Tbilisi, Georgia.
URWERK’s “Time & Culture” collection celebrates the fundamental concept of time transcription, embarking on a journey of remembrance across civilizations. After exploring Native American and Mesopotamian symbolism, the new UR-100V “Time & Culture” takes us to the heart of Georgian Orthodox tradition, a land where spirituality, religion and art have been closely intertwined for centuries.
Handcrafted Art
The UR-100V Time & Culture III watch is adorned in gold and is a masterpiece of 24K cloisonné enamel and miniature painting. The work took 1,152 days to create, using 19 different enamels and fired 16 times at 750°C. Every step, every color, every curve bears witness to the long-standing skills passed down by the masters of the Kakabadze workshop.
Inspired by a fragment of a zodiac fresco in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a treasure of Georgian cultural heritage, this work is a tribute to the Christian liturgy: According to ancient legend, a man named Elias witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus and brought the robe of Jesus to Georgia. When his sister Sidonia touched the robe, she was so moved that she clutched it until she died. Unable to take the robe away from her hands, she was buried in the tomb with the robe, and a cedar tree grew from her grave. In the 4th century, King Mirian III converted to Christianity and built the first church in Georgia on what is believed to be the Sidonia cemetery.
The design of the UR-100V Time & Culture III depicts Christ surrounded by 12 celestial symbols, representing the 12 cycles of time: 12 months, 12 hours, 12 constellations.
Underneath this work of art, the UR 12.01 movement is on board. Time is displayed via a satellite-style hour display, a signature feature of URWERK.
A watch. A memory beyond memory.
The UR-100V Time & Culture III watch is a manifesto, a dialogue between contemporary watchmaking craftsmanship and ancient spirituality and traditional sensibilities. Like a time capsule, every second becomes a brilliant glimpse into eternity.
Urwerk UR-100V Time & Culture III
Unique piece
Case
Material: 2N 18K yellow gold.
Dimensions Width: 41 mm, Length: 49.70 mm, Thickness: 14 mm Crystal: Sapphire crystal Water-resistant to 3ATM (30 meters) Movement
Automatic winding UR 12.02 calibre, controlled by Windfänger propeller Number of jewels: 40 Frequency: 4 Hz, 28'800 vph Power reserve 48 hours Material: Aluminium satellite hours on beryllium bronze Geneva cross mechanism; Aluminium carousel; ARCAP alloy carousel and triple bottom plate. Finishing
Circular satin-brushed, sandblasted, shot-peened, circular satin-finished, circular wood graining Polished screw heads Hours and minutes painted in Super-LumiNova Dome under the sapphire in 24K gold cloisonné enamelling Functions/Indications
Satellite hours; minutes Strap and buckle
Alcantara and leather, 2N 18K yellow gold pin buckle