URWERK invites us to explore a new era of time with the SpaceTime Blade, a fusion of art, technology and the avant-garde.
URWERK unveils its SpaceTime Blade limited series, an intergalactic watch creation
Discover a new dimension in watchmaking with URWERK, which is pushing back the boundaries of time and space with an unprecedented creation: the SpaceTime Blade, a limited series of 33. This monumental work, made up of 1,446 components, embodies URWERK’s characteristic boldness and originality.
Designed to embody the link between time and space, SpaceTime Blade stands proudly like a modern gnomon. At an imposing 1.70 metres high and weighing 20 kilograms, this extraordinary measuring instrument, made entirely of glass and metal, captures the essence of our planet’s cosmic journey. It displays the hours, minutes, seconds and many other data directly linked to the Earth’s revolution around the Sun.
At the heart of this creation is a massive bronze crown, fashioned using the age-old lost-wax method by master craftsman Mr Lukůvka. The glass dome above the crown protects eight Nixie bulbs, each a feat of craftsmanship. Blown in the Czech Crystal Valley, these bulbs, signed by master craftsman Dalibor Farny, are made up of 88 components each, and are designed to display the various measures of time and space with unrivalled precision.
The SpaceTime Blade doesn’t just measure time: it makes the Earth’s journey through space visible. The accompanying bronze remote control lets you choose from eight display modes, ranging from simple time readings to complex calculations of cosmological distances.
‘The SpaceTime Blade is much more than a clock,’ explains Martin Frei, Artistic Director and co-founder of URWERK. ‘It is a work of art and design, a time sculpture that blends the aesthetic codes of science fiction with unrivalled horological rigour.’
With the SpaceTime Blade, URWERK continues to explore the boundaries between time and space, offering a unique watchmaking experience that is both technical and poetic. This exceptional creation is an invitation to rediscover time in a new light, while celebrating craftsmanship and technological innovation.
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 20 kg
Components: 1 446
8 Nixie blown glass bulbs
Displays hours, minutes, seconds, fractions of a second and cosmic distances
Base in patinated bronze, made by lost-wax casting
Bronze remote control to operate the display
When the current is switched on, a warm orange glow provides a visual spectacle of hundredths of a second ticking away. A magical sight. The display is capable of 500 changes per second.
The remote control of this timepiece is just as exceptional, evoking the imaginary world of laser sabres, with eight display modes on offer, ranging from time measurement to distance calculation:
Position 1. indication of hours, minutes, seconds Position 2. indication of hours; minutes; seconds; 1/10 and 1/100 of a second Position 3. indication of day; month; year Position 4. indication of the earth’s daily rotation expressed in km (measured at the Equator – counter over a period of one day) Position 5. indication of the earth’s revolution around the sun expressed in km (counter over a period of one day) Position 6. indication of the earth’s revolution around the sun expressed in km (counter over a period of one year) Position 7. Random display Position 8. Sleep mode
‘Scientific instruments such as telescopes and microscopes, as well as clocks and other measuring devices, were traditionally made of bronze. The SpaceTime Blade draws its inspiration from such instruments, but also incorporates aesthetic codes from the world of science fiction, anticipating the influence of popular culture. The SpaceTime Blade is both a clock and an object of Art and Design, a temporal sculpture,’ concludes Martin Frei, Artistic Director and co-founder of URWERK.
SpaceTime Blade (33 units)
Dalibor Farny
Dalibor Farny is a unique force in the manufacture of Nixie tube lamps, fusing vintage aesthetics with modern innovation. With a handcrafted touch, Farny’s lamps become functional works of art, meticulously designed and customised. The company’s collaboration with NASA underlines its reliability in space applications. Dalibor Farny’s expertise and commitment to quality shine through in each handmade creation, showcasing a blend of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.
