The eagle has landed for Urwerk

PEOPLE, it appears, are fond of naming things after birds of prey. Think of military aircraft such as the F-16 Falcon, basketball teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, or cars like the Ford Falcon. Known for being powerful hunters and for their majestic appearance, it’s not hard to work out why the symbolism holds such sway.

For independent Swiss watchmaker Urwerk, its latest watch, the UR-230, has the moniker “Eagle”, continuing a tradition that began with the UR-210 “Maltese Falcon” in 2012 and the UR-220 “Peregrine Falcon” in 2020. The association came about because the retrograde minute hand has a pointy indicator shaped like a beak, said Martin Frei, the company’s co-founder and chief designer.

The UR-200 series watches are all powerful (horological) beasts in their own right, although the Eagle is now the most potent, thanks to its myriad of technically advanced features. The half-hunter case, with its protective cover, shields the sapphire crystal from scratches and gives it a robust look. It’s made from a titanium base with a CTP (Carbon Thin Ply) outer layer.