Urwerk’s New UR-150 Scorpion is the Brand’s Most Ambitious Evolution of its Satellite Hours Complication Yet

Since Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei founded the brand in 1997, Urwerk has built a reputation for its audacious creations. In less than three decades, the dynamic Swiss/German duo has notched numerous technical achievements and patents. One example is its now-iconic satellite hours complication.

 In fact, ever since the complication’s debut appearance in the UR-103 series in 2003, Urwerk has iterated on the satellite hours mechanism in a few permutations. Today, we get the latest with the new UR-150 Scorpion.

Urwerk has never strayed away from its bold and (at times) eccentric aesthetic. In fact, the brand leans into it. Thus, as Urwerk gained momentum in the new millennium, its models began garnering affectionate nicknames, and soon, the brand began giving its watches monikers of their own.
 

An early example, the UR-202S Steel, hails from 2008. Limited to only 50 pieces, the UR-202 became known as the “Hammerhead” for its imposing crown placed prominently at the top between the lugs. Then, in 2009, the brand unveiled the UR-103T Tarantula in a fully open Aluminum Titanium Nitride (AlTiN)-coated stainless steel case.
 

That year also marked the introduction of the UR-CC1 King Cobra. This model marked one of the first production wristwatches with true retrograde linear displays. Fun Fact: The UR-CC1 drew inspiration from the Patek Philippe Ref. 3414 prototype made by Louis Cottier and designed by jeweler Gilbert Albert in the 1950s.
 

Now, we get the UR-150 Scorpion, showcasing the next evolution of Urwerk’s satellite hours mechanism. “We have once again chosen an evocative nickname for our creation, and the scorpion is indeed a nasty beast,” explained Baumgartner in a press release. “Yet, the design of the UR-150 is gentle. It is very Urwerk – the aggressive symbolism belies the reality of the watch’s cool, calm personality.”

Even to the savviest of horological enthusiasts, Urwerk’s mechanisms can be a bit intimidating and, dare we say, mind-boggling. Here, we will attempt to break it down, starting with the basic origin and evolution of the satellite hours – but let’s be honest, nothing with Urwerk is basic.

The brand’s now-signature satellite hours display is the brainchild of Baumgartner. He drew inspiration for the mechanism from a clock in his father’s workshop that was made for the Pope all the way back in 1652 and featured a wandering hours display. Pretty incredible that something from centuries past has laid the foundation for Urwerk’s ultra-futuristic designs.
 

As we mentioned earlier, we saw the first iteration of the satellite display in the UR-103 series from 2003. It featured wandering hours somewhat like the earlier UR-101, with a pointer on each satellite to indicate minutes along a track. Here, four more satellites were used for the hour indication, attached to an ultralight titanium cross, with the numbers 1, 5, and 9 on the first; 2, 6, and 10 on the second; 3, 7, and 11 on the third; and 4, 8, and 12 on the fourth.

By the debut of the UR-202 Hammerhead five years later, the complication had evolved. This time, a three-sided revolving satellite element held three four-sided cube-like “arms,” each marked with four hour numerals. Outstretched from the hour arms, you will find telescopic minutes hands capable of adjusting their length to follow the minute track sectors.
 

With the latest incarnation of the satellite hours in the new UR-150 Scorpion, we get a reworked satellite complication system, replacing the brand’s classic design based on Maltese crosses with a cam system. The result is a flying carousel bearing three hour satellites that follow a route determined by a cam over the course of 60 minutes.

There is a large open worked hand both framing the prevailing hour and indicating the minutes. This hand arcs over the minute track until the 60th minute has elapsed. Then, the hour hand jumps back to zero. At the same time, all the satellite hours spin on their axes, and the retrograde hand frames a new hour – all in just 1/100th of a second.
 

This retrograde system marks the most ambitious the brand has ever tackled.

The weights are the greatest ever used, and both the speed and inertia are the most intense. To control the dynamic forces at play, Urwerk uses a speed regulator fitted to the Scorpion’s flywheel. This mechanism is typically employed to regulate the chiming sequence on a minute repeater, but on the Scorpion, it helps smooth the return of the retrograde hand.

In juxtaposition to the model’s sharp and poignant technical capabilities, the aesthetic takes on a rather soft approach. The Scorpion features an arched profile, with the case and sapphire crystal extending from the curve of the bracelet along the same continuous line, ergonomically hugging the supple shape of the wrist.
 

The Scorpion was not given soft curves just for effect; every design choice at Urwerk serves a purpose. The curvature of the case is merely an extension of the curvature of the movement’s satellites and indicator hand’s sloping profile, altogether offering maximum legibility.

“On this UR-150, you can read the time without twisting your wrist,” pointed out Frei in the press release. “Everything is a matter of detail, a game of positioning. The tension between the gentle contours of the case and the forceful motion of the mechanism imbues the UR-150 with vitality and energy. I’m not interested in harmony,” he continued. “Beauty appears through a field of tensions.”
 

The UR-150 Scorpion comes in two limited edition variations, each with a 42.49 x 52.31 x 14.79mm case. First, there is an “Iron” version with a sandblasted and shot-blasted titanium and steel case.
 

Second, there is the “Dark” version with a case built from the same sandblasted and shot-blasted titanium and steel, but this time, the steel gets an anthracite PVD-treatment.