What happens when two pioneers of independent watchmaking decide to ignore conventions and truly collaborate? The UR-FREAK is the answer.
Born from an unprecedented partnership between Ulysse Nardin and URWERK, this limited-edition timepiece fuses the Freak’s revolutionary silicon carousel with URWERK’s iconic satellite hour display. More than a collaboration, the UR-FREAK represents a shared philosophy of technical freedom, mechanical experimentation and radical design, condensed into just 100 watches worldwide.
| 📌 Key facts |
|---|
| Brands: Ulysse Nardin × URWERK Model: UR-FREAK Edition: Limited to 100 pieces Case: 44 mm sandblasted titanium Movement: UN-241 automatic flying carousel Display: Wandering hours satellite system Frequency: 3 Hz Power Reserve: 90 hours Material Innovation: DIAMonSil silicon escapement Water Resistance: 30 meters Straps: Yellow and black integrated rubber straps |
The Freak platform reinvented through satellite time display
The original Freak was introduced in 2001 under Rolf Schnyder’s leadership at Ulysse Nardin. It shocked the traditional watch community by eliminating the crown and rotating the entire movement to indicate minutes. Meanwhile, URWERK was founded in 1997 by Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei, who were determined to create timepieces that challenged conventional displays. Both brands emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time when modern tools, new materials, and fresh thinking collided with traditional mechanical watchmaking.
The UR-FREAK takes the Freak ONE as its foundation, replacing the traditional Freak time display with URWERK’s wandering hours satellite system. Over 150 new components were developed specifically for this watch. Three connected hands rotate around the dial. The active hand slides along a 60-minute scale on the right. Mounted on turning domed discs, the hour indicators jump when the active hand completes its journey along the minute track.
“From the very beginning, we made a deliberate choice not to confine ourselves to the same old grandes complications,” explained Felix Baumgartner. “Our aim has always been to push beyond the traditional boundaries of watchmaking.”
Silicon technology and the mechanics of constant motion
What makes the mechanical execution particularly noteworthy is how the wandering hours system integrates with the carousel movement. The silicon balance wheel and escapement assembly are positioned in the center, rotating with the satellite system and completing a full turn every three hours. This constant orientation change helps reduce timing errors in a manner similar to a traditional tourbillon or carousel.
Ulysse Nardin pioneered the use of silicon in watchmaking with the launch of the original Freak in 2001, long before other manufacturers adopted the material. Silicon resists temperature fluctuations and magnetic fields while requiring minimal lubrication. The company developed DIAMonSil, a silicon material coated with diamond, to address silicon’s inherent brittleness. The UN-241 movement that powers the UR-FREAK uses DIAMonSil for the escapement, which is subject to constant mechanical forces.
The 44mm titanium case has a deep, anthracite gray, sandblasted finish, which is typical of URWERK designs. Three fluted sections appear on the rotating bezel and caseback, a hallmark of URWERK designs. Electric yellow accents in Pantone 395 C highlight the satellite pointers and minute markers, creating visual continuity with other URWERK models.
Crownless interaction and high-efficiency winding systems
Like most Freak watches, the UR-FREAK does away with the traditional crown. Time is adjusted through the rotating bezel, which moves the hands when the locker tab at the six o’clock position is lifted. This locker features a special “UR-FREAK” label for the limited edition. The caseback rotates to manually wind the movement, though the Grinder automatic winding system handles most power generation.
The Grinder is one of Ulysse Nardin’s recent innovations in automatic winding efficiency. Traditional automatic systems require substantial force and motion to generate power, but the Grinder system converts even minimal movement into kinetic energy. The UN-241 movement operates at 3 Hz and delivers a 90-hour power reserve. The silicon oscillator is 25 percent larger than standard versions and sits centrally above the rotating hour satellites.
Martin Frei, URWERK’s chief designer, shared his thoughts on the collaboration: “I come from a background where creativity knows no bounds. Free from the constraints of classical watchmaking, I can draw inspiration from my cultural heritage without limitations.“
Follow all the latest news from Fashionotography on Flipboard, or receive it directly in your inbox with Feeder.
You might alos read
Independence as a shared philosophy, not a marketing term
The relationship between Ulysse Nardin and URWERK differs from most luxury watch collaborations, which usually involve cosmetic changes to existing products. This is a technical collaboration from which an entirely new mechanical system emerged through genuine co-development. The brands share a definition of independence centered on creative freedom rather than market trends.
For URWERK, independence means maintaining small production volumes to preserve Baumgartner and Frei’s singular vision. The brand produces approximately 150 timepieces annually. Ulysse Nardin’s independence is manifested through technical freedom and the development of manufacturing capabilities. Both approaches prioritize internal creative inspiration over external pressures.
The UR-FREAK balances design elements from both brands without letting either dominate. Collectors familiar with the Freak platform will recognize the rotating carousel and silicon technology, while URWERK enthusiasts will immediately spot the satellite display and distinctive color palette. The watch successfully promotes the values of both brands.
Limited production, technical specifications and availability
Only 100 UR-FREAKs will be produced. The titanium case measures 44 mm in diameter and has a perceived height of 12 mm. Despite the rotating bezel and caseback, water resistance reaches 30 meters. The movement contains 263 components and 25 jewels. The watch comes with two integrated rubber straps: one yellow with a ballistic texture and one black. A sandblasted titanium deployant buckle secures the straps.
The UN-241 caliber features ruthenium-plated bridges with yellow Super-LumiNova to maintain visibility in low-light conditions. The flying carousel movement rotates around its own axis, and the oversized balance wheel and balance spring ensure precision. Since 2001, Ulysse Nardin has filed more than 20 patents related to the Freak platform.
This watch arrives at a time when both Ulysse Nardin and URWERK are advancing their approaches to modern watchmaking. The Freak ONE recently won the “Most Iconic Watch” prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, confirming the platform’s ongoing relevance. URWERK structures its production around three lines: Chronometry for precision mechanics, Hour Satellite for wandering hour displays, and Special Projects for radical experimentation.
