Watches, compressed air, gadgets, timpieces, turbines, ur-202, urwerk, watch

UR-202 Wristwatch Features Winding System Regulated By Compressed Air

The UR-103 watches from Urwerk were interesting, but their new 202 Hammerhead Automatic goes a few steps further with a unique winding system regulated by compressed air. Instead of a traditional rotating vane, the 202 uses miniature twin turbines to control the rate of automatic winding. Plus, the level of air compression generated by the turbines can actually be controlled using a 3-position selector switch.

As far as telling time is concerned, the watch utilizes a rather elegant series of rotating hour blocks built around hands that automatically adjust their length to mark the minutes. That is a hell of a lot of technology to do what any cellphone or bubble gum machine watch can do, but I have to admit that I'm pretty damn impressed. No pricing information has been made available, but think expensive thoughts. [Urwerk via Watchismo via Gearfuse]

9:20 PM on Mon Apr 14 2008
By Sean Fallon
14,611 views
55 comments

Comments

flame500 at 09:33 PM on 04/14/08
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That is truly one of the most magnificent watches I've ever seen.
Beard Police at 09:36 PM on 04/14/08
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the beauty is in its simplicity, right?
willyolio at 09:39 PM on 04/14/08
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it looks so complex, yet it's so simple. beautiful.
tehronin at 09:42 PM on 04/14/08
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Epic failure, I'll take a breitling.
undeadmachine at 09:44 PM on 04/14/08
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wow i hope they sell enough watches to cover the cost of that promo video...
jrghoull at 09:44 PM on 04/14/08
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while i'm not too crazy about the shape of the outside part of the watch...the setup of the watch as well as the three hands, are beautiful.

my only question is, can you quickly and easily figure out what the hell the time the watch is displaying on a moments whim?
flame500 at 09:45 PM on 04/14/08
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I think I found some pricing which may be a little dated but we're definitely in the "If you have to ask catagory" at
$172,000
altus at 09:46 PM on 04/14/08
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Awesome!
Crazyapple at 09:46 PM on 04/14/08
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Coworker has a 103, it really is a nice wristwatch - the build quality is phenomenal.
Kareem King at 09:48 PM on 04/14/08
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I'll take two.
Genjinaro at 09:53 PM on 04/14/08
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@flame500: Damnit, even at $300-$500 I've been sold. $172,000 is a Maserati Quattroporte (Loaded) or a house; to me.
DucatiGuy at 10:08 PM on 04/14/08
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Being in the jewelry biz for over 30 years, and knowing the manufacturer (and its suppliers), the watch actually costs roughly $29K to manufacturer. The rest is their wholesale to retail markup...
Mr_Hustleufagus at 10:08 PM on 04/14/08
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Anyone know the producer of the song? That is a buttery beat man!
chiablo at 10:34 PM on 04/14/08
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So in the picture above it's 15 minutes past 7:38 on moonsday.
StevieQ at 10:38 PM on 04/14/08
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Hideous
extremer at 10:44 PM on 04/14/08
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My birthday is a month if anyone wants to know =)
extremer at 10:47 PM on 04/14/08
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My birthday is in a month**
iPhony at 10:47 PM on 04/14/08
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You'll want to set this watch like 6, 7 minutes ahead so that by the time you figure out what the hell time it is, you'll have the right time.
mantuswsh at 10:49 PM on 04/14/08
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Is it just me or while the video was showing the watch being built I could only think of "It's the stuff dreams are made of."
poisonfist at 10:53 PM on 04/14/08
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@Crazyapple:

This is an improvement from the 103 (not dissing the 103 by any means) and even from the 201 in several key areas, as you can see from the red color of the synthetic ruby bushing for the telescoping minute hand, they are refining the no-lubrication (no oil) movement to the next level. The change to having the moon phase also means that this movement is a completely different creature from the 201. This is seriously a engineering and craftsmanship marvel.
MisterSleep at 10:53 PM on 04/14/08
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@chiablo: I don't know why, but that observation just made me snort Diet Dr. Pepper out of my nose. Burns just like regular Dr. Pepper!
rg at 11:10 PM on 04/14/08
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I think I just peed a little!
Leonard Nimrod at 11:10 PM on 04/14/08
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@iPhony: There are 3 blocks each with 4 sides. That represents a 12 hour clock.
The current hour is represented by the 8 as it is facing the wearer and has the pin extended.

There the other numbers go from 0-60, which obviously represent minutes. The pin is on 17 minutes.

The time is 8:17. We also know it's PM because the yellow line is just above the black portion but if it was an hour and half earlier it would be too tough to tell.

But I can't tell if the moon is waning or waxing.
Sora57 at 11:14 PM on 04/14/08
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@chiablo: LOL. Well done!
workingonyourinvoice at 11:15 PM on 04/14/08
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Been following these watches for a while now. I want to see one in person. The closest retailer for these is in vegas.
whiteknight at 11:19 PM on 04/14/08
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Wow! That's one helluva watch! That's just sexy.
Leonard Nimrod at 11:33 PM on 04/14/08
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Urweck has a much higher quality MPEG 4 Part-10 (H.264) vid on their site. The Flash video doesn't do it justice.

• [photos.revolution-press.com]
professor at 11:45 PM on 04/14/08
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If you're standing in crowded elevator and someone next to you farts, will the watch suddenly be a few minutes fast?
jawzxy at 12:03 AM on 04/15/08
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@Leonard Nimrod: I guess we're the only ones who can read it...
I like this watch quite a bit, and I'm not a watch person. I would wear this one, though.
Netscott at 12:11 AM on 04/15/08
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This would go well in my blendtec. :-)

-Scott
uberfu at 12:21 AM on 04/15/08
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Cool watch - but the first minute and a half was boring as shit!
Mr_Hustleufagus at 12:24 AM on 04/15/08
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For sure, the last part of the video is the money shot. Seeing it run is great.
Mr_Hustleufagus at 12:24 AM on 04/15/08
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I still need the song info, if anyone knows who made that track?
Stang70Fastback at 12:28 AM on 04/15/08
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That was one of the coolest advertisements I've seen...
dingus at 12:31 AM on 04/15/08
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@tehronin: Breitling is equivalent of strapping a stretch Escalade (with pinstripes) to your wrist.
ps61318 at 12:35 AM on 04/15/08
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I dunno, guess I'm a traditionalist. It's very cool, but for coolness's sake. There is nothing here that makes the watch really work better - although I'd venture to guess that the wind turbine thing is supposed to do that; doesn't really say how.

Different is no doubt exciting and its own motivation, I guess, but I don't quite get it.
Barry99705 at 12:41 AM on 04/15/08
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@ps61318: The turbine is totally self contained. The watch is water proof. The turbines are attached to the winding mechanism to keep it from smacking the stops at either end of it's travel. This keeps wear and tear down and makes it last longer. At least that's what I gather reading their web site.
nutbastard at 12:47 AM on 04/15/08
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Connectedness Index: 629
Brought to you by Acura TSX

@tehronin:

we get it. you like to pretend to fly airplanes over enemy territory.
_badtziscool at 01:20 AM on 04/15/08
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OMG. A Breitling over an Urwerk? Well. To each his own but taking a Breitling over this is like taking a souped up Civic or Mustang (take your pick) over a Veyron. You just have no idea on the detail, complexity, precision, and accuracy of this watch. It's an engineering masterpiece and THAT is where the beauty of this watch is.
bigmp at 01:31 AM on 04/15/08
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@_badtziscool: Exactly... Gotta love those ETA movements :)
willyolio at 01:52 AM on 04/15/08
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@jawzxy:
that's why i said it looked complex but was actually really simple. in fact, reading it is even simpler than reading a standard analog watch.
wonkydonky at 03:34 AM on 04/15/08
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@tehronin: -er, Breitling?

Why don't you just get it over with and roger John Travolta with a Coke bottle, eh?
CODIFEROUS at 03:44 AM on 04/15/08
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JesusWatch.
sfokevin at 05:25 AM on 04/15/08
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Are there that many Steampunkers out there with $172K stashed away in their garage?
vinchbr at 08:52 AM on 04/15/08
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JesusWatch.(2)
Joseph at 09:30 AM on 04/15/08
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@tehronin: Everybody has Brietlings. Get a Jaeger-LeCoultre, Richard Mille, or Hublot.
comp_wiz101 at 10:03 AM on 04/15/08
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It reminds me of the overcomplicated German watches of the 1970s... practically need an engineering degree to read one at a glance. I like engineering in my watches, but I also like them thin!
Airport_Whiskey at 10:04 AM on 04/15/08
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@Joseph: Anyone who calls this watch "epic failure" then asks for a Breitling doesn't deserve to get the time of day from Jaeger, Mille or Hublot.
logruszed at 10:55 AM on 04/15/08
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@undeadmachine: The music sounded like Art of Noise doinf a Michael Jackson cover.
N@tedog at 11:01 AM on 04/15/08
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Cool but what the hell time is it? 3.5:87 and 17 seconds?
B1663R at 02:49 PM on 04/15/08
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@N@tedog: i would guess 8:17. for am or pm look outside
light=am
dark=pm
in between, take a guess and 50% of the time you'll be right.
BigDanInTX at 04:49 PM on 04/15/08
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(*quivers*)

This thing gets my rocks off on sight alone!! Just the fact that someone thought so far out of the box, yet nailed the execution of it amazes me. =-D
Leonard Nimrod at 09:12 PM on 04/15/08
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@BigDanInTX: I agree 100% and I hate wearing watching. I never wore them when carrying handheld electronics with built in clocks were commonplace. The fact that I not only think it's cool but that I actually want one means a great deal to me. Still find pricing, though.
undeadmachine at 09:34 AM on 04/16/08
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@logruszed: i didnt have the sound on the first time i watched it...i was just marveling at the super expensive 3d work. now that i watched with the sound on...i am inclined to agree with you.
Calistograph at 09:16 PM on 04/18/08
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Ummm, I think I've seen quite enough watches to last me for the rest of the year. Thanks.