URWERK Concludes the 230 Series with the “Black Star” UR‑230 Timepiece

Features comprise a composite ceramic casing, UR‑7.30 calibre, wandering-hours satellite display, and dual turbine winding mechanism.

URWERK

URWERK concludes the year with the UR‑230 “Black Star,” a striking culmination of the 230‑series triptych that commenced with the Carbon CTP “Eagle” and the ceramic “Polaris.” This concluding chapter embodies a cosmic, sidereal black — an aesthetic designed not to reflect light but to absorb and transmute it. URWERK characterises the watch as a gravitational field where light vanishes and reappears in ephemeral bursts, a notion mirrored by artistic director Martin Frei, who compares the piece to a collapsing star at the brink of existence and oblivion.

In accordance with URWERK's essence, the "Black Star" showcases a satellite wandering-hours complication accompanied by a retrograde three-dimensional minutes hand. Three cubic hour satellites traverse a 120-degree sector, with the active hour indicated by an openworked retrograde hand that resets to zero at the conclusion of each 60-minute cycle. The timepiece is governed by URWERK’s proprietary twin turbine mechanism, wherein one turbine mitigates shocks while the other regulates airflow to adjust automatic winding. A back control enables the user to modify or disable the rotor, with indications positioned at 11 and 1 o’clock to display the settings.

URWERK

The UR‑230 “Black Star” features the UR‑7.30 calibre, encased in a hermetically sealed titanium casing designed as a mechanical safe. A newly constructed laminated composite ceramic case, composed of braided ceramic, fibreglass, and carbon fibre within a polymer matrix, encases this protected heart. Upon machining, the material exhibits a lustrous, relief-like surface adorned with shimmering micro-reflections, resulting in a rich, dynamic black-light texture. The case features a black DLC titanium back, sapphire crystal, and a vulcanised rubber band, emphasising the watch's amalgamation of technical innovation with avant-garde design.

The UR‑230 “Black Star,” restricted to 35 units, encapsulates a profound, vibrant darkness that discloses illumination solely on its own conditions. Offered at 150,000 CHF (about $187,473 USD), it is presently available for enquiries via URWERK's official website.