At the end of 2023 URWERK released the UR-230 Eagle. Made from TPT carbon, it was the first in the 230 series, maintaining a version of the brand’s revolving satellite complication of a three-armed carrousel with rotating blocks each carrying four hour numerals.

It also featured a newly developed set of shock absorbers designed to protect the new Calibre UR-7.30 via a set of turbines whose task is to reduce the impact of external shocks, and a second set of turbines controlling the air (which they call an ‘air brake’) that feeds through the winding system, modulating the winding powder according to wrist activity and set via a rotating knob at the rear of the watch.

The UR-230 Eagle had the same case design as the UR-200 collection, but the CTP carbon case had a cover that lifted 90 degrees to reveal the satellite system.

Now, URWERK has brought a new member to the UR-230 collection family in the form of the UR-230 Polaris, which has a white case machine-carved from a block of proprietary ceramic composite consisting of layered sheets of woven ceramic and fibreglass. The resin that covers the sheets is coloured white, and the fibre glass is light silver.

The UR-230 Polaris retains a familiar case design from the 200 collection and measures 53.55 mm in length, 44.81 mm wide, with a thickness of 18.38 mm. With water resistance of 30m, the case back is black DLC-treated titanium.

The new UR-230 Polaris retains a wandering hours revolving satellite complication, with an aluminium 3D retrograde hand to display the minutes. The hour markers have Super-LumiNova. The dial has micro bead-blasted sub dials, there is sand-blasting with circular satin finishing on the black rhodium-coated carrousel, sand-blasting with DLC coating on the cam, black anodised and sand-blasted finishing on the minute hand, a red anodised counterweight, 60-minute marker, and an automatic winding indicator.

We mentioned the Calibre UR-7.30. It is also in this watch, with a manual winding option. The UR-230 Polaris can switch to manual winding mode via a switch that disengages the rotor. The indicator at 1 o’clock indicates the level of adjustment for this function. Beating at 28,800 VPH, it has a double barrel system and a power reserve of 48 hours. The ‘air brake’ turbine system for winding regulation is noted on the top of the case on the dial side balancing, design wise, the winding indicator.

Coming on a vulcanised rubber strap, the URWERK UR-230 Polaris comes in a limited edition of thirty-five pieces with an RRP of CHF 150,000 (excluding taxes).

[Photo credit: URWERK]

Categories: Limited Editions, URWERK, Watch Profile, watches