Days Of Future Past

Urwerk’s exceptional think tank, Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner, discuss progressive horology with ANDRE FROIS

- Andre Frois

ALTHOUGH THEIR CHOICE of words and knowledge give away undeniable gravitas when they discuss the philosophy of chronometry, Urwerk’s watchmaking duo Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner never tire when they engage cognoscenti and the uninitiated alike in conversation. Inexhaustibly inquisitive artisans since their journeyman days, Frei and Baumgartner recount events from their collective memory bank of 20 years in vivid detail, as if these had occurred yesterday. Their relentless pursuit of the silver lining where traditional watchmaking embraces contemporary pragmatism has brought them to this point, the UR-105 CT, which epitomises their most favoured aspects of both the old and new worlds.

Christened the “Streamliner”, the UR-105 CT is dedicated by Frei and Baumgartner to their stints in art deco-rich New York City. Its black version is PVD-coated steel and titanium while its gleaming rendition is fashioned from mirror-polished steel and titanium. Powered by ingenious high-efficiency turbines, this captivating objet d’art is first and foremost the duo’s message to the world that time is a matter of perspective.

AT FIRST GLANCE, URWERK WATCHES CAN BE FUDDLE WITH THEIR UNUSUAL TIME DISPLAYS.WHAT ARE YOUR OBJECTIVES WHEN PRESENTING TIME IN NON-CONFORMIST WAYS?

Felix Baumgartner (FB): Two teachers from an art school that teaches watchmaking visited me recently. They said to me, “Fifteen years ago, you appeared and Urwerk was a new breath of life in watchmaking. Urwerk opened new doors for the craft and created new horizons.” That was our objective.