Urwerk made its mark on the horological scene at Baselworld 1997 with the UR-101 and UR-102 models. Since then, their watchmaking repertoire has expanded to include groundbreaking concepts such as satellite/wandering hours display, fluid dynamics, solar distances, and sci-fi inspirations. Their flagship creation, however, remains the Urwerk Spacetime Blade Clock with Nixie tubes, which debuted at the 2023 Only Watch auction. Fast forward a year later, this vertical timepiece, reminiscent of a Jedi’s Lightsabre, has been reintroduced in a limited edition of 33 pieces during Watches and Wonders 2024.[1]

Figure 1. The URWERK Spacetime Blade is a new take on clocks.

Urwerk Spacetime Blade Clock: Craftsmanship by Master Artisans

Figure 1 shows the URWERK Spacetime Blade is a new take on clocks The Urwerk Spacetime Blade Clock is part of the brand’s UR-Special Projects category, alongside other groundbreaking timekeeping innovations like the UR-111C and the UR-112, which have revolutionized traditional perspectives on mechanical watches. Urwerk enlisted the expertise of master artisans such as Mr. Lukuvka, renowned for his proficiency in lost-wax casting, Mr. Votruba, who excels in crafting stunning glasswork, and the Czech Republican company Dalibor Farny, known for its handcrafted Nixie tubes, to collaborate on this extraordinary timepiece.[2]

Honouring Vintage Nixie Tubes

The Urwerk Blade Clock, towering at 5.5ft and weighing approximately 20kgs, boasts eight vertically stacked Nixie tubes that emit a mesmerizing fiery orange glow. These hand-blown glass tubes, reminiscent of the 1950s innovation adopted by the Soviet Union's military and industrial sectors, are meticulously crafted with 88 parts each and assembled by hand. Upon activation, the tubes offer eight display modes, showcasing hours, minutes, seconds, split seconds, day, month, year, and even the Earth's rotation in kilometres, alongside 'shuffle' and 'pause' options. Featuring cathodes forming Arabic numerals for precise timekeeping, the Urwerk plaque crowns the tube construction. Encased within a protective glass tube atop a wax-casted bronze pedestal, a technique traditionally used in jewellery and sculptures, the Nixie tubes exude both elegance and durability.

Reference:

1. https://www.ethoswatches.com/the-watch-guide/urwerk-space-time-blade-nixie-tubes/
2. https://newatlas.com/technology/urwerks-spacetime-nixie-clock/

Cite this article:

Gokila G (2024), Urwerk's Horological Evolution: From UR-101 To Spacetime Blade Clock with Nixie Tubes, AnaTechMaz, pp.247