URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet Watch Review
The URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet is the latest and final expression of the UR-120 story. Housed in a futuristic, blue-toned case, it provides a delightful take on the historic wandering hour clocks of the 17th century. Meehna Goldsmith, longtime URWERK fan, shares her observations for the delectation of horophiles and sci-fi lovers alike.
URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet – the UR-120’s swan song
URWERK launches the UR-120 for the last time with the UR-120 Blue Planet. The third iteration of the series is dressed in blue and gold, taking us on a deep plunge into the cosmos. Instead of titanium, this time the brand uses sandblasted steel for the 47 mm wide, 44 mm long, 15.8 mm thick spacecraft-shaped case.
Comprised of two parts, the base and upper part seamlessly meet to form a protective shell. As URWERK artistic director, Martin Frei, points out, the approach is a hallmark of Gerald Genta’s work. More than just a technical feat, it becomes an act of design. Articulated lugs extend the case, while a spring hidden in the 6 o’clock lug allows the fit to be adjusted on the wrist.
URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet – a marriage of blue and gold hues
Colour is used with specific intention. Blue anchors the watch and draws the eye into the three-dimensional architecture. From different angles it shimmers between an inky blue and black. Free from any parts or screws on the dial, the landscape echoes infinity. Gold plays a supporting role against the backdrop of the blue. Both the lyre springs and the Maltese crosses are finished with a 24K yellow-gold PVD coating to focus attention on the active components, where the kinetic action lives and reflects light. This is a nod to the Bussard collectors glowing at the front of the USS Enterprise’s warp engines.
URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet – calibre UR-20.01
The UR-120 Blue Planet doesn’t just show the time, it stages it in a delicate choreography. The calibre UR-20.01 uses three hour-satellites orbiting a central carousel. Each one advances along the minute track until 60 minutes pass and the next hour advances onto the track. Don’t look away just yet because another visual treat appears: after a satellite reaches the left-hand side of the case, it opens into two rectangular arms split apart to form a ‘V’. Known as the Vulcan salute, it’s a sign of peace and good wishes used by the alien race called the Vulcans. Filled with Super-LumiNova, the satellites glow for viewing the time in low-light conditions.
As you can imagine, this dance requires a delicate balancing of forces. But challenges are an inspiration. “In actual fact, once we realised we had to open these satellites, it became a cause for personal celebration,” said co-founder and master watchmaker Felix Baumgartner. “A new horological conundrum to solve.” The UR-120’s carousel alone is built from 175 components. URWERK’s signature Maltese cross element and lyre-shaped spring, produced in its own workshops, make it all possible. In a limited edition of 20 timepieces, the UR-120 Blue Planet comes on a blue Cordura-textured calfskin strap fitted with a satin-brushed steel pin buckle.
URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet – challenging perceptions of time
The UR-120 Blue Planet marks the end of a chapter for URWERK. Since its debut, the UR-120 has embodied many of the ideas that define the independent manufacture: unconventional time displays, kinetic animation and a willingness to blur the line between watchmaking and science fiction. Rather than relying on traditional complications, the brand has consistently challenged expectations by rethinking how time can be experienced and displayed.
The UR-120 Blue Planet feels less like a conventional wristwatch and more like a miniature spacecraft. Its smooth shell-like construction, wandering-hour display and transforming satellites create an object that appears as though it belongs in the future rather than the present. Yet beneath the futuristic aesthetics lies serious horology, with every component engineered to manage energy, precision and reliability.
Closing remarks
As the final execution of the UR-120, the Blue Planet serves as a fitting farewell. The deep blue tones evoke the vastness of space while the flashes of gold highlight the forces at work beneath the surface. It captures the adventurous spirit that has long inspired URWERK. The satellites perform their Vulcan salute one last time before disappearing beneath the sapphire crystal, bringing the journey of the UR-120 to a close in appropriately cosmic fashion.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: URWERK UR-120 Blue Planet
- Case: sandblasted steel, 47 mm (w) x 44 mm (L) x 15.8 mm (H) – excluding the crystal, water resistance 3 ATM (30 metres)
- Functions: analogue minutes and dragging satellite hours displayed on triple planetary gears
- Movement: Calibre UR-20.01, automatic movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 32 jewels, power reserve 48 hours
- Strap: blue Cordura-textured calfskin strap with satin-brushed steel pin buckle
- Price: CHF 115,000 excluding taxes (RRP as of 11.6.2026)
- Limited Edition: 20 pieces