New URWERK owner and believer

Hello all,

I am new to both the forum and the URWERK ownership experience. I came across the forum for the first time last week and was most pleased to see an old familiar name, Ian Skellern. Having known Ian for several years from another forum I was most pleased as I was considering the purchase of a new URWERK, and who better than Ian to help assist and enlighten me. So, before continuing, Ian I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for your most gracious and courteous assistance and your wealth of knowledge of URWERK and for sharing it with me.




My first personal exposure to the URWERK brand came in early 2005 when I handled a WG 103. I wasn't overwhelmed at the time, perhaps a combination of the smaller crystal and the case metal. It wasn't until about a year ago that I was able to see the 103.3 both in PT and WG. I loved the watch but found the case metals didn't move me. I had stopped by my local AD last Monday to find he had a 103.7 in RG. The watch looked just great, for me the RG made all the difference in the world. After wearing it for 20 minutes while I liked it and had no issues with the wider ribbing, I was however concerned about the very large area that was high polished, everything except the inset between the u shaped crystal. I felt that even as careful as I am the swirls alone, not to mention any "mishaps", would be very telling. Well, last Thursday I had a RG 103.3 delivered to me on approval. This was the first time I was to see the 103.3 in RG, my metal of choice, and I was hoping that it would be as exciting in the metal as it had always been in pictures. WOW, I was not disappointed, it is spectacular. All the pieces of the puzzle were now present and I was truly OVERWHELMED.





The watch sits beautifully on my wrist, as if it were made with only me in mind. I've been collecting for 20 years and of all the watches I own, Pateks, VC, AP, Lange, Dubuis, Journe, DeBethune, etc., or have ever owned, NONE have ever created the level of excitement that this has. They're all round or tonneau, have dials, hands, crystal that mirror the case, bezels, etc. This is just so unique, the experience so different, yet maintaining all the grace and elegance one could desire.





It's keeping wonderful time so far at +2 sec a day. One thing I've noticed is that when winding it seems that there is a bit of back pressure, not resistance, that if you wind it forward only using your finger (as opposed to index and thumb winding back and forth not letting go) and let it go, the crown springs back just a bit. From what I've read and the warning included with the watch regarding the handling of the crown, it seems that this may just be due to the large crown and torque of the mainspring. The crown is very easy to handle, and am always certain to wind it one revolution counter clockwise (releasing the tension on the mainspring) before pulling out. The winding is very smooth, almost too smooth, and almost inaudible. I need put my ear to the case to hear it wind, and then just barely. I would prefer a bit more tactile feedback but still a pleasure.





Setting is quite easy and the control panel is a great asset in setting the minutes correctly, due to a combination of the small minute track on the dial and middle age eyesight. Since the movement is non-hacking, I have found that with a little back pressure on the crown I can stop the seconds hand at 0 to completely sync the time. I have been extremely careful when winding due to the cautionary tales I've heard about overwinding. I only wind while looking at the power reserve. Even though it reaches the 43 hr mark I've yet to ever feel the resistance or stop of a fully wound mainspring that I do with all my other manual winds. I am unclear if I can continue until I feel such resistance and would appreciate any input. However, for the time being I will err on the side of caution.



One of the innate qualities I like about this watch is its ability to traverse the world of casual or dress, and be at home in either. I've been wearing it with jeans and t-shirt and it looks terrific, and am certain it will be equally elegant with a suit or tux. From the case design, satellite system, fit and finish, and even the wonderfully massive strap, this is just a pleasure to wear. I've now been wearing it since last Friday and still feel the same excitement as I did when I first opened the box. When I look down at my wrist I am still overwhelmed by its beauty and presence. To be completely honest, I'm as giddy as a school girl.



Again, I want to thank Ian and the forum for giving me such a wonderful place to share my experience and further feelings about this wonderful timepiece. I also wish to thank and congratulate Mr. Baumgartner and Mr. Frei for such a wonderful creation and wish them continued success.

Kind Regards,

SMS

posted edited to add images.

[Duncan]

Congratulations SMS!

It is a stunning watch and I hope that you enjoy it for many years to come.

I have taken the liberty of displaying your photo here:




I hope that you don't mind...

Duncan

[SMS2]

Hi Duncan,

Thank you very much for posting the pic for me. Thank you as well for your kind words. I look forward to frequenting this site as well as participating. It is comforting to see so many old and familiar names including your own from another site where I've been for many years.

I don't know why it showed me as unregistered. I signed on when posting my original post and it acknowledged me. We'll see how this post works.

Kind Regards,

Stephen
SMS

[SteveW]

Congrats!!! It's a beatiful piece and a great write-up. Enjoy it in good health.

[IanS]

Thank you for an excellent write up and photos. 103s are rare beasts so hearing first hand impressions are especially valuable.

You should treat your 103.03 with respect but it is a watch designed to be worn everyday and is no primadonna. You will clearly feel the mainspring tighten when it is fully wound. As long as you do not ignore that sign you should have no problems; however,using the Power Reserve indicator is recommended because of the wide interpretation of some users as to 'reasonable force'.

Enjoy!

[Wimster]

Wow SMS, what a stunning watch, never seen it in real life, wondering and hoping if it's going to happen someday. Great to see new designs and technics in the world of watchmaking.

It must be a great feeling having that timepiece on your wrist, wear it in good health and happiness.

greets, Wim

[Geo]

Congrats with this pink gold version.
I like it a lot, when I see it on your wrist; I did'nt dare the pink gold,
to be honest, since it's pretty eye catching.
You're very right that the watch goes with formal as well as with casual,
it's a great and very comfortable to wear design.
Geo

[Geo]

that the case underneath the minutes on the dial, on Stephens watch,
has changed from ribs to smooth.
Never seen that on the 103.03 models.
IanS do you know when this was changed?
(Not that it matters, I just wondered)
Geo

[Chucky1103]

SMS,

nice watch! Looks good on you. Just realized it is actually quite slim!

Wear it in good health!

cheers

[Wei]

Looks fantastic and I strongly feel this will be one of our era's horological icons. I'm also impressed with the accuracy of watches leaving F&M's atelier.

I think the external regulating device allows their own watchmakers to set the watches to even higher levels of precision, a truly functional innovation based on a A L Breguet concept.

Wear it in great health

Cheers

Wei

[IanS]

around halfway through the series. As 200 103.03s were made in total, the slight change in that case design would have been from around No.100 onwards.

It was simply the first part of the evolution between the classic ribs of 103.03 case and the chunkier look of the 103.07.

[Geo]

I learn every day.
Geo

[IanS]

learn something new every day.

[SMS2]

Gentleman, thank you all for your kind words and good wishes, they are most appreciated.

Geo congratulations on you WG 103.3, a bit stealthier than the RG. It looks wonderful and I can certainly appreciate why you chose it. Wear it in the best of health.

I of course noticed the smooth finish with the lack of ribbing on the case underneath the minute track. Unsure why the difference, and not quite clear what to make of it, Ian's explanation now brings that mystery to a close. I had actually expected the piece to arrive with the ribbing as I had never seen it with without. Either way I love the watch, ribbing or no ribbing the watch is out of this world.

I normally don't wear the same watch 2 days in a row, and will always wear a different watch in the evening that I wore during the day. Well, the rules changed with the URWERK. I've had it now for about 10 days and I think I've worn it 6 of the 10 days. So, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".

Warm Regards,

SMS

[Milan]

on that bold RG 103.3. This is really a masterpiece that one can only appreciate with time spent studying the amount of workmanship, innovative & audacious design. I have yet to be a full convert myself, but since I have been spending more time here on HM Urwerk forum admiring these stunning timepieces from afar the feelings are growing.

I have to commend you on wonderful write up that really spoke to me about your path to your acquisition & enjoyment of the piece. Wear it in the very beast of health Stephen.

[Geo]

Stephen thank you for your kind words, much appreciated.
Ribs or no ribs underneath the minute track is a minor detail and one
is not really better than the other, to me.
I have the same experience as you have; when I bought the watch I expected
to wear it not everyday, but I wear it at least 5 days a week.
Cheers,
Geo

[Evo900]

Congratulations on the great watch. It truly is a stunning work of art!

[cmeisenzahl]

Beautiful!

[eric(hkgweilo)]

congratulations on a great acquisition. your photos are excellent as well..really showing the piece in the 'real world' environment and letting us all imagine how it would look strapped to our own wrists!!

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