Pre-Owned Urwerk Urwerk UR-120 'Spock' 40991512/AS08835

While certain alternative time-telling displays can feel contrived, the ‘wandering hours’ complication always imparts a sense of wonder.

Developed in the 17the century, it largely disappeared by the turn of the 20th century, to be revived by Audemars Piguet in the form of its Starwheel collection in 1991. Sophisticated and whimsical, the wandering hours display forms the basis of much of high-end independent company Urwerk’s output. 

The brainchild of Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, Urwerk has been pushing the horological envelope since 1997, designing cutting-edge timepieces that beg closer examination. In 2022, it reworked its well known UR-100 series into a special timepiece that references one of the world’s most beloved science fiction characters, Commander Spock from Star Trek.

Housed in a 44mm x 47mm sandblasted steel and titanium case with a curved sapphire crystal, articulating lugs, and a 12 o’clock crown, the UR-120 ‘Spock’ Titanium rotates the more conventional (if that term can be applied!) wandering hours display by 90 degrees such that the minutes track is now situated on the dial’s right flank. Each of three satellite arms contains four of 12 hour indices; the time is read by glancing at the hour displayed by the arm as it makes its way across the side of the dial, where minutes 1-60 are displayed in an arc. However, each index is also bifurcated — once the appointed hour is past, it splits apart before rotating to the next appropriate hour.  

This system is maddeningly complex and ultimately involves multiple axial rotations: the satellites rotate around the dial upon a central axis; the splitting hour displays rotate around their own axes; and each satellite counter-spins to maintain legibility and remain upright. Powered by the UR-20.01 automatic movement with Windfänger Planetary Turbine Automatic System, the result is a symphony of movement that positively captivates the wearer in its sophistication and creativity. 

Paired to an embossed calf leather strap and shipping with its factory goodies, the UR-120 ‘Spock’ Titanium is a window into the future of mechanical watchmaking — one whose novel approach to timekeeping simply never wears off.