Following the Urwerk White Shark (a limited edition take on the Urwerk UR-202), the Urwerk Champagne Supernova is a limited edition twist on Urwerk’s UR-110 Torpedo watch launched early this year.    Like MB&F’s Horological Machines, Urwerk’s ultra-limited, super-pricey timepieces are of their own world and tend to foster love or hate by those who view them.  I, for one, am still trying to “warm up” to these unique creations — but I do not hesitate to give big props to Urwerk Chiefs Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei for their ability to create what they love while at the same time pushing the limits of horological design.

Anyway — as to the UR-110 Champagne Supernova — the radiant and very nice looking color comes from a coating of Zirconium Nitride on the bezel, which provides the distinctive pale gold hue that gives rise to the “Champagne Supernova” nickname.  Zirconium Nitride is a high-performance ceramic coating that provides superb scratch, wear and corrosion resistance.  As far as inspiration goes, I guess that Urwerk drew on one (or both, hehe) of the following:  1) a song by English rock band Oasis, written by guitarist Noel Gallagher (video here), 2) a supernova known as SN 2003fg (or SNLS-03D3bb by the Canada-France-Hawaii Supernova Legacy Survey) –  see ‘Champagne Supernova’ Breaks Astronomical Rules, CBS News, 2006.  Anyway…here it is….

Urwerk Champagne Supernova Watch

Limited Edition of 12 pieces

Functions include Urwerk’s revolving satellite system with rotating hours and minutes modules mounted on planetary gears; day/night indicator (top of dial) and “oil change” indicator (lower dial — alerts you when the watch needs service); small seconds

The Urwerk UR-110 Champagne Supernova is available exclusively from Chronopassion (Paris), Marcus (London), The Hour Glass (Singapore) and Westime (Los Angeles) with a six-figure price tag.

If I’ve ever been early to a story, this would be the one — I first wrote about the pathetic ponzi perp Scott Rothstein on December 29, 2009 (see: Another Possible Ponzi Perpetrator’s Watches Heading to the Auction Block).   Naturally, it was an enormous Franck Muller wall clock (see it here) which first brought the story to my attention, but little did I know that this was just the tip of a wristwatch-iceberg, perhaps the largest ever to be seized by Federal authorities in connection with such a crime.  Today’s update on the story is to highlight some of the more intriguing timepieces I found in Scott Rothstein’s 262 piece watch collection that is to be auctioned on July 13, 2011.  I hope you enjoy the “Top 10 Most Interesting Watches in the Scott Rothstein Watch Auction”, straight ahead.

At the time of my initial article, Rothstein had plead “not guilty” to perpetrating a $1.2 billion Ponzi fraud, but now he is a convicted criminal facing 50 years of hard time.  I haven’t the least bit of sympathy for someone like Rothstein — the man lived a King’s life with ill-gained money, owning more luxuries than many can even dream of.   Yachts, cars, fancy houses, watches, perhaps even a politician or two (he was friends with former Florida Governor Charlie Crist) — Rothstein seemingly had it all.  And then it came all crashing down — like all Ponzi schemes eventually do (just ask Bernie Madoff and his Monoblocco Rolex)!

Scott Rothstein Showing Off Some of His 250+ Luxury Watches

Many of Rothstein’s possessions were sold at auction on January 23, 2010 — including the aforementioned Franck Muller wall clock.   However, Rothstein’s previously seized watch collection (250+ luxury watches, many worth tens of thousands of dollars apiece) has been held by the United States Treasury Department — until now.   This Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Rothstein’s watches will be sold to the highest bidder at auction.

Scott Rothstein in a white suit, hat and matching grin

(pictured with his then wife to-be, Kim, and former Florida Governor Charlie Crist)

Would you trust your money to a man who dresses like this?

Source: http://www.page2live.com/2009/11/16/whos-scott-rothstein-oh-that-guy

The July 13 auction will feature Rothestein’s absurdly huge collection of some of the world’s finest watches.  Yes, he owned many of the well known status symbols:  Patek Philippe, Rolex, Breguet, Piaget, Hublot, Roger Dubuis, and Panerai (but curiously, no Omega).  But like a spoiled kid in a candy store, Rothstein also scooped up many rarely seen watches made by smaller, independent watchmakers such as Richard Mille (2), Harry Winston (2), Urwerk (2), Pierre Kunz (several),  Daniel Roth (several), Gerald Genta (several), and others.

I combed through each of the 262 lots to be auctioned and came up with a list of the Top 10 Most Interesting Watches in the auction:

“The Top 10 Most Interesting Watches In the Scott Rothstein Watch Auction“

(in no particular order)

Lot 21, Harry Winston Ocean Dual Time (White Gold)

Lot 25, Pierre Kunz “Insanity” (Titanium)

Lot 72, Urwerk UR-103 (White Gold)

Lot 110, Richard Mille RM011 “Felipe Massa” (Titanium and Gold)

Lot 77, Azimuth MR. ROBOTO

Lot 102, Piaget Tourbillon Relatif (White gold)

Lot 104, Daniel Roth,Limited Edition 2/15

Lot 111, Audemars Piguet, Case Engraved “Especially Made for Arnold Schwarzenegger” (Titanium)

Lot 165, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore “Survivor”

Lot 208, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore “SHAQ”

See them all at http://www.treasury.gov/auctions/treasury/gp/ftl_watches.html.

Any comments?  Feel free to weigh in!

]]> http://blog.perpetuelle.com/special-reports/watch-collection-of-ponzi-schemer-scott-rothstein-to-hit-auction-block-on-july-13/feed/ 6 http://blog.perpetuelle.com/watches/urwerk-ur-103-phoenix-for-only-watch-2011/ http://blog.perpetuelle.com/watches/urwerk-ur-103-phoenix-for-only-watch-2011/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:37:09 +0000 Kyle Stults http://blog.perpetuelle.com/?p=10083 Phoenix Rising…

Continuing my previews of the one-of-a-kind watches to be auctioned for ONLY WATCH 2011, today we look at the Urwerk UR-103 Phoenix.  It is a visually stunning watch from the very first glance, with white gold case that has been hand-decorated by master engraver and artist Jean-Vincent Huguenin (he’s no stranger to Urwerk).  I think the “Phoenix Rising” motif is a great choice both for its fit with the UR-103 case style and for the noble cause of the Only Watch event (proceeds go toward research for the debilitating disease known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy).  If you are not familiar with the Phoenix, it is one of the great symbols of mythology representing rebirth, a life that is never conquered by death, always rising from the ashes to fly again (more Wikipedia, Google).

It’s a spectacular piece for a great cause.  Nicely done, Urwerk!

Via: Revo-Online.

Urwerk UR-103 “Phoenix”

Unique Piece

Says watch artist and URWERK co-founder Martin Frei:

In our daily lives we all have objects that are slightly talismanic. We love to have them at our side, in touching distance. Without giving them a mystical value, we assign them a virtue, an ‘aura’. With this in mind, we have designed the UR-103 as a veritable talisman – a source of energy for its future owner.

Master Engraver Jean-Vincent Huguenin decorating the UR-103 Phoenix

Starting today Perpetuelle will begin its coverage of Only Watch 2011.  Stay tuned in because over the next few months, you will get to see awesome “piece unique” watches from each of the participating brands for the 2011 event:

Click through to see our in-depth preview of each watch:

• Harry Winston Midnight GMT Tourbillon
• Patek Philippe Ref 3939A Minute Repeater
• Urwerk UR-103 “Phoenix”
• Romain Jerome “Rock the Rock”
• Hublot Oceanographic 4000m dive watch
• MB&F HM-4 “Flying Panda”
• TAG Heuer “Monaco Mikrograph”
• Bell & Ross Pink Gold “Casino”
• Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Chronograph
• Blancpain Villeret Grand Decoration
• Piaget Altiplano Skeleton
• Breguet Reveil Musical Watch
• Audemars Piguet Gstaad Classic
• Jaquet Droz Petit Heure Minute
• Van Cleef & Arpel “From the Earth to the Moon” Watch
• Girard-Perregaux ww.TC
• Corum Golden Bridge Automatic Titanium
  
• Vulcain Anniversary Heart Watch
• Chanel J12 Marine Watch
• Franck Muller “Totally Switzerland”
• Ulysse Nardin Freak Diavolo
• Vacheron Constantin “Dove” Watch (M.C. Escher-inspired)
  
• Zenith El Primero “Destro” watches
• Montblanc Villeret 1858 Pulsograph
• Ikepod Red Hourglass by Marc Newson
• Bovet Fleurier, Celsius, Chaumet, Chopard, De Bethune, Delacour, De Witt, Frédérique Constant, Hermès, Laurent Ferrier, Maurice Lacroix, Richard Mille
  

Only Watch 2011 will be held September 24, 2011 and managed by watch auction house Antiquorum.  But you don’t have to wait this long — because part of the excitement leading up to the September 24, 2011 event is the release of each participating brand’s special edition watch.

ONLY WATCH 2009

If you are interested in looking back, I covered the Only Watch 2009 auction extensively including blogging about several of my favorites inlcluding:  Piaget Emperador Coussin, MB&F Sage Vaughn HM-2, Bovet 3-in-1 Mona Lisa Watch, Tourneau Jump Hour, Louis Vuitton Tambour, Chanel J12 Joallerie with pink sapphire, and Blancpain 500 Fathoms.   You can see all 34 “Only Watch 2009″ watches here on the Perpeuelle World Watch Forum.  The Only Watch 2009 auction was hosted by Patrizzi & Co.

Watches such as this new UR-202S made by Urwerk serve a very special and narrow niche in the watch industry.   I admit that I am still warming up to their fantastical designs, but now and again they quite captivate me.  Urwerk’s unconventional and sometimes “exotic-animal inspired” watches are made in small quantities (<100) and sell for very high prices ($50k+) to very passionate collectors.  Now what you see here is a new take on the UR-202, simply by virtue of its having a metal bracelet.  Not just any bracelet, though, the shape of the UR-202 case requires a highly engineered bracelet — what watch journalist Ian Skellern aptly calls a “Rolls Royce bracelet.”  According to Skellern in his fantastic behind-the-scenes tour of the UR-202S bracelet making process,  the cool thing is that 16 of the 22 links in each UR-202S bracelet are unique forms and sizes.   Only six of the 22 links are identical.  As you can imagine, with such a specialized process like this, there is yet another reason why Urwerk watches cost so much and are so rare.

Urwerk UR-202S With Bracelet

The UR-202 already had a limited version called the White Shark.  The new 202S is limited to 50 pieces in total with a choice of three versions; gold, Titanium Aluminium Nitride coated stainless steel or polished stainless steel…

Well-known watch journalist Ian Skellern (give him a follow on Facebook @underthedial) did a nice job of putting together this short film on the new Urwerk UR-202 White Shark.   You can see more photos and read my prior coverage of the timepiece here, but be sure to watch this video first.  Thanks for taking us up close and personal with the Great White, Ian!

With this new UR-202 “White Shark” I’ve got to give the guys at Urwerk credit for their continued and excellent ability to seek inspiration from exotic species and see it through to an equally exotic timepiece (remember the “Mexican Fireleg”?). Urwerk’s new Rare Species collection (website coming soon) will reflect ultra-limited production of pieces developed in close collaboration with specific partners.  The first rare species which you see below is the UR-202 White Shark, and it bears the imprint of Chronopassion (Paris) and The Hour Glass (Singapore), two famous horology retailers and collaborators for this particular piece.

The White Shark keeps with the overall design of the original UR-202 except for its monochromatic color scheme — thus delivering upon the “white shark” concept.  The one red number of the 12 hour digits you see below signifies the limited edition nature of this model — just 12 pieces.

Technical Description (per Urwerk):

Time on the UR-202 is displayed using telescopic minute hands operating through the middle of three orbiting and revolving hour satellites. These hands precisely adjust their length to follow the three vectors marking the minutes: 0 -14, 15 – 44, 45 – 60. Extended, they enable the UR-202 to display the time across a large easy-to-read, dial. Retracted, they allow for a very wearable and comfortably sized case. A moonphase and day/night indicator complete the dial..

The patented central carousel is the nerve centre of the satellite complication. It is not only enables the rotating hour satellites, but also the high-precision manoeuvres performed by the three telescopic minute hands. The carousel is a technical tour-de-force requiring fabrication tolerances down to three micros.

Two turbines are visible on the back of the UR-202 “White Shark” and these are coupled to the rotor to regulate the winding system of the watch. The turbines are controlled by a three position selector lever. In mode”FREE”, the two turbines spin freely enabling maximum winding of the mainspring. In mode “Sport”, the two turbines spin with resistance, acting like pneumatic brakes that reduce the winding efficacy wound by 1/3rd. In mode “STOP”, the turbines are locked and block the rotor from winding at all, although the watch can still be manually wound if necessary.

Seems there will be a new “Rare Species” collection from Urwerk, featuring some very special concept/ultra-exclusive pieces from the brand.  I have almost no details on this special series except I do know that the first piece is to be the UR-202 “White Shark”.  A new website is set to debut as early as tomorrow — I’ll leave the URL of the new “Urwerk Rare Species” website undisclosed until then…

Martin Frei says, “Our 103 collection is entering its seventh year. It has reached its maturity and fullness. It was Urwerk’s first masterpiece, one of audacity and challenge.  In my opinion, it is the one that symbolises to this day the perfect balance between elegance and technicity. A fragile balance, but one which we have succeeded in preserving. This emblematic model deserves an end commensurate with its life.”

The Urwerk 103 Tarantula Mexican Fireleg

Close-Up

Orange luminescent markets, Limited edition of 60 timepieces

What is a “Mexican Fireleg”, you ask?

]]> http://blog.perpetuelle.com/watches/baselworld-2010-urwerk-mexican/feed/ 4 http://blog.perpetuelle.com/watches/the-razors-edge/ http://blog.perpetuelle.com/watches/the-razors-edge/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:14:37 +0000 Kyle Stults http://blog.perpetuelle.com/?p=2431 The New Urwerk UR-203

Urwerk is known to produce complicated pieces with interesting takes on the ways we tell time.  Since the introduction of their UR-103 collection Urwerk has used a method of satellite discs to display the hour and minutes.  Expanding on that idea, and using a design they first introduced in the Harry Winston Opus V, Felix Baumgartner (co-founder and master watchmaker) and Martin Frei (co-founder and chief designer) unveiled the 200 collection which uses a series of turning cubes on a rotating carousel to show the hour and telescoping hands that emerge from those cubes to display the minutes as they passed by.  Since their introduction, the team at Urwerk have been modifying those wildly popular collections offering new variations to would be buyers.

In late January, during a special introduction event in Geneva, Urwerk took their next step while proudly unveiling the UR-203.  At first glance the UR-203 looks somewhat similar to its brother, the 202;  sporting the same aggressively designed geometric case and similar rotating carousel with flipping display cubes.  Upon closer inspection you see that Felix and Martin spent some time stripping down the design to its bare minimum.  Skeletonizing the carousel and using an ARCAP P40 stable non-ferrous and non-magnetic alloy, not only giving the observer an inside look of how the display mechanism operates but also reducing the weight of the carriage by 65%; which now weighs a mere 3.57 grams.

Urwerk also introduced two new indicators on the dial that appear to be a first for any brand.  Tucked away in the corners under the crystal are the “Oil Change” and “150 Years Horological Odometer” displays.  The oil change indicator slowly moves along eventually informing its wearer that the movement needs to be serviced, which is every three years per the manufacturer’s recommendations.  On the opposite side the “odometer” displays how long the movement has been operating, with an ultimate display of 150 years.  With obvious inspiration from an automobile, some could see these features as something of an unneeded gimmick, but they fit well enough into the dial design that I don’t think they distract from the functionality, or overall style of the watch.

Regarding the development of the UR-203 Felix Baumgartner explains “This UR-203 is a wild idea of Martin Frei“, he continues. “Martin imagined a stripped down model distilled to its pure essence. We had to start again at the beginning to develop this model, we sat down at the drawing board and completely reconsidered the satellite module. The horological challenge with this complication was to develop a complex mechanism with the minimum of components to ensure its reliability and longevity.”

Those familiar with the UR-202 will recognize the automatic movement that uses mini turbines to regulate its winding in the new 203, but it has been tweaked a bit hence what powers the UR-203 is a new Caliber, the UR 7.03.   The UR-203 will have a very limited production run of only 20 pieces all in a black PE-CVD coated platinum case micro-sanded with a titanium back plate.

This one is sure to draw some attention at the up and coming 2010 watch fairs.