The UR&shy;100V Time And Culture II comes, inspired by Mesapotamia.

With the second edition of the UR100V, the Time and Culture II, URWERK explores ideas and concepts stemming from the Mesopotamian civilisation, specifically the ancient city of Ur. History lesson incoming &ndash; it was sometime around the year 3000 BC, when the Sumerians, who lived in Ur, established the earliest known unit of time, essentially establishing the basis for contemporary time measurement. They introduced the concept of 60 as a key number, which gave rise to the division of time into 60 seconds and 60 minutes, a system that still underpins our timekeeping today.
On the new watch, one will discover a unique display where the hours and minutes coexist with information about the Earth's rotation. When the 60th minute comes to an end, the minutes hand transforms into a kilometer counter, visually representing the 477.29 kilometers that each inhabitant of Ur experiences during a 20-minute period due to the Earth's rotation. This illustrates the silent journey facilitated by the Earth's rotation. Conversely, at the opposite end of the scale, you have the Earth's orbit around the sun, which covers a distance of 35,742 kilometers every 20 minutes. On the dial of the UR-100V, both hours and kilometers are treated with equal significance, sharing the same value scale and providing a unique perspective on the passage of time and celestial movements.
One key element that stands out from underneath the sapphire dome of this UR-100V, also known as 'Sumer,' is a symbolic assembly paying tribute to ancient and distant deities. In a collection like the UR-100V, where one of the indications relates to the Sun, the prominent representation of Utu is quite logical. This modernized design of Utu, the Sumerian god of the Sun, features a four-pointed sun symbolising the four cardinal directions, which is actually his original form over two millenia ago.

On the other hand, nestled between the lugs and appearing as if it's suspended in orbit, you'll find the representation of Nanna, the moon god and the principal deity of the city of Ur. Additonally, the blue hue of the watch is a nod to lapis lazuli, a precious stone associated with Innana, the goddess of Love, War, and Fertility.
Acting as a backdrop to the famous URWERK satellite time-telling display are distinct space-related patterns on its outer edge. They convey and emphasise the astronomical wisdom emanating from the Sumerian civilization. These patterns include authentic sky charts and planispheres, which bear witness to their fascination with the night sky and its celestial bodies. It is believed that some of the earliest principles of what we now know as astrology were established during this era, making it a significant period in the history of our understanding of the stars and their influence.
Much like in the initial Time and Culture, the motifs presented here have been faithfully reproduced with an unparalleled level of precision. The lines are exceptionally delicate, subtle, and meticulously laser-engraved. The precision and detail of this craftsmanship can only truly be observed through a magnifying glass. The ridges of the design are satin-brushed, while the recessed areas are micro-sandblasted to achieve a soft, velvety texture, enhancing the three-dimensional aspects of the design and paying homage to this invaluable legacy - the very essence of the URWERK brand.

"Through my reading and my travels, I've been fortunate enough to discover all the richness and diversity of the Sumerians. Their mythology is rich and fertile, their constructions truly timeless. This astonishingly little-known civilisation is fascinating. For this new creation, I loved staging some of its hallmark features: mythology, astronomy, astrology and time measurement,&rdquo; explains URWERK&rsquo;s co-founder and artistic director Martin Frei.

A Journey Of History And The Mind

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