URWERK "UR-CC1"

The "King Cobra" is finally here!


OK... I promise this is the last of the "ULTRA EXPENSIVE" pieces I will be commenting about for some time. This URWERK surely deserves more that just a few lines. Yes, after many months of expectation the latest wonder by URWERK does meet the expectations. As I have posted in the past, URWERK has succeeded with the King Cobra where Patek has failed. How many can say this? Very few...

This alternative means to display time is based on two rotating cylinders was indeed attempted by Patek 50 years ago. Whetter they managed it to work is not really certain since Albert's and Cottier's prototype is locked-up in the Patek museum in Geneva. By the way, what an ugly watch... In any case Patek either thought it was not economically plausible, not too Patek'ish... or just like me, they though it was NOT precisely the most attractive piece they ever made. The principle is inspired from Cadillac Cars from the 60's that had lateral speedometer displays. As the cylinders turn the hours and minutes progress displaying the correct time. It is a bit awkward at fist, as with all other URWERKs I guess, yet once you get the idea the time is quite easily readable. First the turning disks, than the rolling dice and now revolving cylinders. What's next? Quite frankly I have no idea. Every time I think that there are no more ways to display time somebody comes along and proves me wrong.

I was one of the few blessed to actually physically see and touch the functional prototype several months ago. I was smitten. The King Cobra is a big watch, but it wears surprisingly well. In any case I doubt that many will wear these since most are going to be kept in their owner's large vaults because they are going to be such a special piece. That is a pity since all the stuff from URWERK, even the most complicated, is actually meant to be used and enjoyed on a regular basis. Bare in mind that up until few years ago ultra-complicated watches where not really capable of working over extended periods of time. A brief interlude; Did you know that until the mid of las century less than 10% of the about 500 Tourbillon watches made actually worked?... Anyway, back to our mater at hand. The King Cobra is a very usable and wearable item and I sure hope to see it worn at least once, even if the odds to find one of 50 amongst 5 billion people is rather slim. Although, I must admit I have come across rarer watches in the past.


The CC1 will be executed 25 times in white and 25 (for 2010) in black. Knowing URWERK you can be sure this amount will be definitive. If you are amongst the lucky ones to have a healthy enough wallet to go after one of these, don't debate for too long. Rest assured that the King Cobra will be one of those watches that will have a preferential spot in the watch Elysium.

URWERK...