Swiss independent watchmaker known for its avant-garde satellite time displays and futuristic, craft-focused mechanical art.
ORIGIN
Switzerland
PRICE TIER
luxury
Founded in 1997 by master watchmaker Felix Baumgartner and artist-designer Martin Frei, Urwerk is a Swiss brand that deconstructs time-telling by blending traditional horology with a futuristic vision. The partnership began with a shared goal to move beyond conventional hands, leading to their signature wandering hour complication. This mechanism, where rotating satellite discs indicate the hour along a minute track, is inspired by 17th-century night clocks but executed with a science-fiction aesthetic. The name itself combines 'Ur', referencing the ancient Mesopotamian city where time was first measured, and 'Werk', the German word for work or creation, symbolizing their foundational and creative approach.