Just over a year ago, URWERK released what would be their new entry-level collection (not that there’s anything entry level about an URWERK!),  the UR-105M, better known as the “Urwerk Knight” (you can find my review of it here).

Featuring their emblematic satellite time display system, the “new” UR-105 TA hosts a couple of new and improved features over its short-lived predecessor.

URWERK UR-105 TA-5

The first big change is kind of obvious, and that’s the colors. The original UR-105 from over a year ago was available with breastplate-shaped steel or black titanium bezel, which were in comparison pretty tame. While this wouldn’t be the first time URWERK experiments with colors (remember the UR-103 Tarantula Mexican Fireleg?), this is by far the boldest chromatic reinterpretation of their watches we’ve seen to date.

URWERK UR-105 TA-4

Though UR-105 TA is available in typically URWERK black and titanium or red gold titanium, it’s the polarizing and vibrant Black Orange edition as pictured or Black Lemon edition that are the talking pieces. The neon yellow-lime color on the Black Lemon edition prototype I handled back in Basel unfortunately wasn’t the right color, so I won’t be showing sharing my photos of it. But just in case you’re wondering, Here’s the image from the press release:

zoomvariationsUR105TALemon

 

 

 

 

 

URWERK UR-105 TA-1

URWERK UR-105 TA-2

The second change in the UR-105 TA from its short-lived predecessor is a subtle one, though it certainly gives the watch a lot more character, and that’s the surface finish of the revolving satellites and their carriage, which have gone from satin-brushed satellites and a horizontally striped carriage to striped satellites with a sculpted guilloché-like “Geneva crosses” decoration on the carriage. The luminescent paint has also gone from white to the signature URWERK lime color.

URWERK UR-105 TA-6

URWERK UR-105 TA-7

And last but not least, the movement is quite different from the original UR-105M, going from a manually-wound to an automatic system. Not just any automatic winding mechanism, Urwerk have reintroduced their dual turbine system that regulates the central rotor’s effect on the mainspring (the “TA” in UR-105 TA stands for Turbine Automatic).

URWERK UR-105 TA-8

The winding system has three settings: “FULL” to allow the maximum amount of kinetic energy to wind the mainspring, “RED” for reduced, which regulates the winding mechanism to avoid over-tension on the mainspring, and finally “STOP” which completely disengages the automatic winding system for those who prefer manually winding the watch via the large crown at 12 0’clock.

URWERK UR-105 TA-3

Overall I have to give credit to URWERK for trying out something that’s a little bit out of their comfort zone. It’s not dramatic, but it’s punchy enough to become. If I already owned an URWERK or two, I could totally see myself with the Black Orange. But I don’t, so this would be just fine for now.

URWERK UR-105 TA-9

The URWERK UR-105 TA comes at the price of CHF 64’000 for the Black edition, CHF 58’000 for the Black Orange and Black Lemon, and CHF 66’000 for the red gold bezel edition. Each edition is limited to 100 pieces.

More information on www.urwerk.com