In late 2025, two of Switzerland’s most creative watchmakers — Urwerk and Ulysse Nardin — astounded the observe world with a striking collaboration.
Their joint creation: the UR-FREAK. This timepiece mixes the best of both brands into a single, momentous observe. In straightforward, coordinate terms: it's something brand new — but too established in decades of innovation.
Why This Collaboration Matters?
Two Visionary Producers, One Watch
Urwerk and Ulysse Nardin are not fair any watchmakers. They are among the most forward-thinking autonomous maisons in Switzerland.
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Urwerk, established in 1997, made its title by reconsidering how a observe can appear time — frequently utilizing fawning hours and unusual mechanisms.
Ulysse Nardin, whose roots go back to 1846, resuscitated mechanical watchmaking with intrepid designing. Their popular “Freak” line has long challenged the standards of observe plan.
When these two houses combine powers, the result is more than a collaboration — it’s a unused chapter in mechanical watchmaking.
What Makes URFREAK Special?
A Cross breed Development: The Modern Calibre UN-241
At the heart of UR-FREAK lies a brand-new, completely coordinates development — the calibre UN-241. This development is not fair a remix of ancient parts; more than 150 unused components were created particularly for this watch.
- The UN-241 blends two distinctive philosophies:
- The flying carousel engineering of the Freak.
- Urwerk’s wanderinghour disciple show framework.
Three adj. hands — each carrying a domed circle that appears the hour — circle on a carousel. As one hand slides along a diminutive track (on the right side of the dial), it marks minutes. When the miniature scale completes, the another hour circle hops into put and the following hand starts its way.
At the center sits a silicon adjust wheel oscillator that pivots with the carousel. The oscillator beats at 3Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour). The observe offers a liberal 90hour control save.
The winding framework is another highlight: utilizing Ulysse Nardin’s restrictive “Grinder®” programmed winding framework — greatly effective, changing over indeed little wrist developments into vitality.
The escapement employments DIAMonSil® innovation — a combination of diamondcoated silicon — which makes the development more tough, frictionresistant and decreases the require for visit adjusting.
Design & Construct: A Unmistakable See and Feel
Case & Fabric: The UR-FREAK employments a 44mm sandblasted titanium case — anthracite dark — giving it a tough but cutting edge look.
No Crown: In line with the Crack convention, there is no conventional crown. Time is set and wound utilizing a pivoting bezel and caseback. A little tab (named “UR-FREAK”) at 6o’clock locks the bezel when it’s not being utilized.
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Visual Complements: Urwerk’s signature electric yellow (Pantone 395 C) is utilized deliberately on the toady pointers, miniature markers, and the coordinates elastic strap — giving a dynamic differentiate against the dull titanium.
Straps: The observe comes with coordinates elastic straps — one in electric yellow “ballistic” surface, another in dark — secured by a titanium collapsing clasp.
Water Resistance: In spite of its openworked, complex development, the observe holds 30m water resistance.
In brief: UR-FREAK doesn’t fair “look different.” It’s built in an unexpected way — from the interior out.
What This Implies for Observe Darlings & Collectors?
True Development, Not Fair Looks: Numerous observe collaborations these days are restorative — a unused dial colour, a symbol here or there. UR-FREAK is distinctive. This is a ground-up mechanical creation — a completely unused development, with interesting mechanics.
Collectible & Uncommon: As it were 100 pieces will ever be made. That makes UR-FREAK ultraexclusive — a genuine collector’s thing.
A Explanation of Autonomy: Both Urwerk and Ulysse Nardin have built their notorieties on autonomy — autonomy of plan, of materials, of the rules. UR-FREAK is a celebration of that soul. It appears what happens when autonomous horology goes past convention and grasps strong unused thoughts.
Engineering as Craftsmanship: UR-FREAK isn’t fair approximately telling time. It’s a active form — a move of mechanics unmistakable on the wrist. If you appreciate observes as mechanical craftsmanship, this observe pushes the boundaries of what a wristwatch can be.
Conclusion
The UR-FREAK isn’t fair a observe. It’s a assembly of minds. It’s history, innovation, and plan — all rolled into one. By combining the spearheading soul of Urwerk with the specialized authority of Ulysse Nardin, these two watchmakers have made something that feels both recognizable and totally new.
For collectors and partners of mechanical observes, UR-FREAK is verification that genuine development is still conceivable. It’s uncommon. It’s striking. And it reminds us why watchmaking is as much around imaginativeness and building as it is approximately telling time.
Whether seen beneath a loupe or worn on the wrist, UR-FREAK is ordained to be recollected — not fair as a observe — but as a breakthrough.
