Diving into Black: Urwerk UR-112 Back to Black

Like a spacecraft, Urwerk UR-112 Back to Black is the third watch in Urwerk’s UR-112 series, which can be a sci-fi series.

Founded in 1997, Urwerk is one of the most innovative and futuristic members of independent Swiss watchmaking with its contemporary and original designs. Having introduced its first watches, the Urwerk UR-101 and UR-102, at the 1997 Baselworld Fair, the brand has since grown by expanding its concept with unorthodox designs blended with science fiction. Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2022, the brand announced Urwerk UR-112 Aggregat Odyssee as the second watch in the UR-112 line, which is also can be described as a spacecraft on the wrist. We called it as a spacecraft since its design refer to several sci-fi movies from Star Wars to Battlestar Galactica. Now, the brand dropped its most digital mechanical watch, the Urwerk UR-112 Back to Black

Urwerk press release described the timepiece with these words, “If I were a hero, I would be James Bond; if I were a color, I would be black in the darkest night, if I were a car, I would be the Bugatti Atlantic Type 57 SC. As Urwerk UR-112 Back to Black, I am the most digital of all URWERK mechanical watches.” Besides its black and stunning design, Urwerk UR-112 Back to Black stands out with its jumping hour function and digital second hour.

The UR-112 Back to Black has a complex design and is made in a 42 mm diameter steel-titanium case. The upper part of the watch in which the dial is normally located, is covered by a retractable lid that resembles a steel hood. When this top flap is opened, we see the second power reserve and the digital seconds display. The time is tracked by cylindrical prisms placed just below this hood. On the left side of this cylinder we can see the time, while on the right side we can see the minute counter, which advances every 5 minutes.