Painzable » Urwerk UR-10 SpaceMeter replica watches

Urwerk's most traditional watch still redefines time.

Few watchmakers evoke the futuristic as Urwerk. The Swiss brand's designs, while sometimes head-scratching and sometimes not quite as radical, nevertheless impress.

Nearly 30 years later, Urwerk finally demonstrates its prowess in crafting standard watches with its latest creation. However, looks can be a bit deceiving...

Breaking the mold
The UR-10 Spacemeter is a first for Urwerk, featuring central hands on a round dial. For a brand that relies entirely on satellite hours and a moving display, this feels almost sacrilegious. But these seemingly traditional hands don't tell a conventional story. They measure time, but the three subdials scattered across the dial track something far more distant than the universe itself.

This watch is inspired by a family heirloom: a 19th-century Gustav Sanders pendulum clock, restored in 1996 by co-founder Felix Baumgartner's father. Baumgartner Sr. initially struggled to understand the measurements of the clock's three subdials until he discovered they were designed to track Earth's rotation in space. This concept became the foundation of the UR-10, which now measures planetary motion on three scales: Earth's daily rotation (per 10 kilometers, at 2 o'clock), Earth's revolution around the sun (per 1000 kilometers, at 4 o'clock), and a combined counter at 9 o'clock that synchronizes these two tracks.

Familiar territory, new execution
The case borrows heavily from the UR-100 series, featuring the same octagonal titanium structure, the same crown at 12 o'clock, and the same integrated bracelet. The bracelet is secured with Gérald Genta-style screws that screw into the case from the side, perfectly complementing the Nautilus' style. Measuring 45.4 mm in diameter and just 7.13 mm thick (excluding the crystal), this watch is one of Urwerk's most comfortable watches to date. Similarly, the sandblasted titanium bracelet seamlessly blends seamlessly into the case.

Flip it over and you'll find a 24-hour peripheral hand tracking the Earth's full rotation, while the caseback features engravings indicating its rotation (clockwise) and revolution (counterclockwise) – a subtle nod to our planet's actual motion through space.

Movement
Inside the watch is the UR-10.01 caliber, developed at Vaucher Manufacture and significantly refined by Urwerk's in-house team. This complication requires the addition of five additional gears and shafts, as well as a skeletonized LIGA assembly weighing just 0.009 grams, to maintain a 43-hour power reserve. Urwerk's patented twin-flow turbine – two counter-rotating propellers – controls winding resistance through air friction rather than mechanical braking, reducing wear and creating a captivating visual effect through the caseback.

Specifications
Model: UR-10 Spacemeter
Case Material: Sandblasted Titanium
Case Dimensions: 45.4 mm
Lug-to-Lug: 44 mm
Case Thickness: 7.13 mm (excluding crystal)
Movement: Caliber UR-10.01, automatic, with twin barrels
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power Reserve: 43 hours
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Sandblasted titanium integrated strap with folding clasp
Dial Options: Black PVD or gray PVD with circular graining