Urwerk UR-120 Space Black Inspired by deep space, the UR-120 is rendered in black.

Last year, more than a decade after the brand's UR-110 won the GPHG Design Watch Award, Urwerk launched a new version of the satellite display watch. The UR-110 was the first Urwerk watch (other than the Harry Winston Opus 5) to display the time horizontally. There are also many additional details on the dial, such as oil change and day/night indicators as well as Urwerk's control panel and small seconds display.

Urwerk UR-120 and UR-120 Space Black
Eleven years later, Martin Frei of Urwerk decided it was time to revisit the concept of developing a slimmer version of the watch with an elegant interface. To achieve this, they split each satellite hour into two parts, which were separated and rotated each time the hour changed, and then reassembled into the upcoming hour. In Frei's opinion, this gives the UR-120 an "unprecedented fluidity." The splitting and rejoining of time does have a balletic quality to it. But for Urwerk, the gesture reminded him of the "long live thriving" Vulcan salute that Spock has come to symbolize in entertainment history.

The benefit of the split satellite design is that the UR-120 is slightly thinner than the UR-110, but noticeably more compact at 44mm long by 47mm wide. The upper part of the case is sleek and sleek, with rounded sides that slope up to a curved sapphire crystal glass that ends in chamfered edges adjacent to the lugs. The two-part housing is secured by transverse screws.

A hinged lock at the top of the case covers the crown between the lugs, while springs under the lugs attach to the calfskin strap. To accomplish the opening and closing of the satellites, a special lyre-shaped spring was required, which was made by Urwerk himself. An added benefit of this elegant design is greater visibility of the hours despite the much smaller case. Urwerk also simplified the display, showing only wandering hours and retrograde minutes.

The first edition of the UR-120 was made of sandblasted titanium and steel, with a gray movement. Now, a new version of the UR-120 is available, featuring a black DLC treatment and silicon coating. UR-20.01 movement with gray PVD coated brass elements (gold plated and black rhodium plated) and anodized aluminum, ARCAP, beryllium nickel and LIGA treated nickel. The all-black finish of the watch adds depth to this three-dimensional movement, making the green glowing satellite feel like it is floating in deep space.