On the very rare occasion when an original UR-102 has come up at auction, it has generated a great deal of interest because of their scarcity. As such, the launch of an updated version for 2023 was always going to generate at the very least the same levels of interest.

A lot has happened in the watch world, let alone the URWERK world, in the years since the original’s launch in 1997, but in looking back at it, it is obviously quite different from the URWERK everyone has come to know – a round URWERK with a wandering hour indicator on a semi-circular track.

The new UR-102 “Reloaded” is comes in a boxed set containing two versions – one in titanium, the other in Black PVD-treated steel. It is, of course, larger than the original – 41mm versus 38mm (thickness of 11.3mm), but it is not just the size of the case that has had modifications/ modernisation, with the crown now merged into the case, and at 4 o’clock. The lugs are larger and more angular. The font of the hours and minutes markers has been redesigned, with some personal messaging on the dial. The hours are on satin-brushed engraved discs, and the hour and minute markers are painted and coated with Super-LumiNova.

The satellite trajectory of the hour indicator follows a semi-circular path from 0 minutes and disappears at 60 minutes. URWERK wanted a nod to the blue of the original UR-102, and in “reloaded” it comes in the form of the minutes track in the titanium model being the same blue.

Underneath the titanium case back is the automatic Calibre 2.02 which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 48 hours.

Both models come on a textured rubber strap with a quilted pattern and either a micro-blasted titanium pin buckle or a black PVD-treated titanium pin buckle.

The UR-102 “reloaded” boxed set is in a limited edition of twenty-five pieces comprising of both the “Titanium” and “Black” versions with an RRP of CHF 56,000 (excl. taxes). You will notice that the twenty-five number is not what it says on the back. This is because this is the ‘launch set’. A further 75 pieces of each colour will be released “at a later date” but there are no further details at this point.

These are not just fun watches from a brand history point of view, as the original design retains appeal. Their sizing is not too big and the case/ lug design sits comfortably. Selling them in a boxed set is obviously an interesting move, but they are quite different in impact when worn, so you can select which one as the mood strikes.

Categories: Limited Editions, Switzerland, URWERK, Watch Profile, watches, Women's watches