URWERK has always been known for making watches that stand-out on the wrist but the UR-110 Eastwood takes this concept to a whole new level.
The UR-110 Eastwood
Let me just start out by saying that what you are about to read is a completely biased review of what I think is one of the coolest watches to come out of URWERK since they unveiled the EMC. Stylish, distinctive and completely unexpected, the UR-110 Eastwood embodies everything we love about independent watchmaking.
Regular readers will no doubt be familiar with URWERK’s UR-110 already – after all we have written about it multiple times before, including here, here and here. The successor to the brand’s incredibly popular UR-103 series, the UR-110 was launched back in 2011 to high acclaim (it won the 2011 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève prize for Best Design Watch among other awards) and has been offered in several different variations in the ensuing years.
Now, however, like the UR-103 before it, it is time for the UR-110 to hang up its spurs, which brings us to the UR-110 Eastwood. As you might expect URWERK really wanted to do something different for the final version of what has become a favourite timepiece of many of the brand’s fans (myself included.) The best way to do that of course was to start from scratch, as URWERK co-founder Felix Baumgartner explains:
“For this final edition of the 110 collection our starting point was a bare watch, a stripped-down version of the 110 from which we created a new piece with a new character a radically different vision. To achieve the best result, we constantly ask ourselves one critical question: What is our ultimate desire? The EastWood was our answer. It is racy. It is incomparable. It is alluring.”
As you can see in the photos, mechanically the UR-110 Eastwood remains effectively unchanged however aesthetically it has taken on a completely new life, unlike anything the brand has produced before, ever.
The UR-110 Eastwood Red Ebony
The UR-110 Eastwood Black Macassar
There a two versions to choose from, both limited to just 5 pieces each. Both versions feature the trademark UR-110 titanium case however the bezel of one has been painstakingly carved from fair trade, Indonesian Macassar ebony whilst the bezel of the other is carved from fair trade, South African Red Ivory wood, a feat that sounds far easier than it actually is as Martin Frei, URWERK’s co-founder, was quick to point out;
“Carving a rounded bezel out of ebony, one of the hardest, densest timbers on the planet would prove a great challenge. But to master that carving and have it marry perfectly with the precise construction of the UR-110 would be a near impossible feat. However, there is nothing more appealing than the thought of conquering the impossible: We were ready to dive in.”
For the final touch, URWERK collaborated with Timothy Everest, a well-known bespoke tailor to create unique tweed straps for the UR-110 Eastwood collection, one of which incorporates the original Prince of Wales check worn by the Duke of Windsor (brown and blue on ivory fabric.)
As ever the only complaint I have is that there will only be 10 made and I am sure many of them have already been spoken for. At least we get to say goodbye to the UR-110 in style though!
For more information please visit the official URWERK website.
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