URWERK UR-300 Time Quantum AlTiN

With the UR-300 Time Quantum AlTiN, URWERK continues its exploration of time display by venturing into the world of quantum physics. Having drawn inspiration from celestial trajectories and orbital movements, the independent watchmaking house founded by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei now turns its attention to the infinitely small, to the interactions between particles, and to the instantaneous transformations of matter.

Limited to just 25 pieces, this black edition stands out for its Grade 5 titanium case coated with a black DLC finish applied via PE-CVD deposition. Its dark, technical aesthetic particularly highlights the extraordinary mechanical architecture visible beneath the sapphire crystal.

A New Interpretation of Wandering Hours

Since its inception, URWERK has made wandering hours its hallmark. With the UR-300 Time Quantum, this iconic complication undergoes a radical transformation.

Traditional satellites give way to four three-sided hour prisms, distributed across two modules arranged perpendicularly. The assembly forms a T-shaped architecture, whose geometry evolves over time.

The prism at the base of the T indicates the current hour and advances along a graduated scale from 0 to 60 minutes, covering an angle of 108 degrees.

With each hour change, the mechanism releases the stored energy to trigger a true chain reaction. The entire assembly instantly advances 72 degrees, the two axes swap positions, and the four prisms pivot simultaneously to display the new hour.

Unlike conventional retrograde displays, this system operates via a prograde jump, projecting the indication forward rather than returning it to its starting point.

In a fraction of a second, the entire mechanism breaks down and reassembles itself.

A feat of micromechanics

Behind this spectacular transformation lies a particularly sophisticated mechanical system. The UR-30.01V automatic caliber is based on a modular design combining planetary gears, a cam, a rake, a spring, and Maltese cross indexing.

The real challenge lies in simultaneously moving several components while perfectly controlling their inertia, friction, and energy transmission.

To achieve this, URWERK has developed an optimized architecture utilizing, in particular, copper-beryllium, brass, anodized aluminum, titanium, and nickel components produced via the LIGA process.

The movement, equipped with two barrels, offers a 44-hour power reserve. Its automatic winding is regulated by the patented Dual Flow Turbines system, a hallmark of the manufacture’s technical research.

The display is complemented by three seconds hands, each covering a 20-second sector, for a total indication of 60 seconds over a 120-degree arc.

A bold black edition

Measuring 45.2 × 58.8 mm and 18.25 mm thick, the UR-300 Time Quantum makes a particularly strong architectural statement.

Its Grade 5 titanium case, treated with black DLC, accentuates the visual depth of the movement and underscores its futuristic character. The anti-reflective sapphire crystals allow the wearer to observe the various levels of this three-dimensional construction.

Mounted on a NATO strap, this black edition combines the lightness of titanium, mechanical sophistication, and a resolutely contemporary aesthetic.

With the UR-300 Time Quantum AlTiN, URWERK offers more than just a new way to tell time. The manufacture transforms every time change into a mechanical event, giving the passage of time an almost physical dimension.

A limited edition of 25 pieces worldwide, available at Chronopassion, a specialist in independent watchmaking in Paris.