URWERK Closes the 230 Series With the “Black Star” UR‑230 Watch

Summary

• URWERK unveils the UR‑230 “Black Star,” a 35‑piece limited edition that serves as a finale to its 230 series
• Features include a composite ceramic case, UR‑7.30 calibre, wandering‑hours satellite display and dual turbine winding system

URWERK closes the year with the UR‑230 “Black Star,” a dramatic finale to the 230‑series triptych that began with the Carbon CTP “Eagle” and the ceramic “Polaris.” This final chapter embraces a cosmic, sidereal black — an aesthetic conceived not to reflect light but to absorb and transform it. URWERK describes the watch as a gravitational field where light disappears and reemerges in fleeting flashes, a concept echoed by artistic director Martin Frei, who likens the piece to a collapsing star on the threshold between presence and disappearance.

True to URWERK’s DNA, the “Black Star” features a satellite wandering‑hours complication with a retrograde 3D minutes hand. Three cubic hour satellites rotate across a 120‑degree sector, with the active hour carried by an openworked retrograde hand that snaps back to zero at the end of each 60‑minute cycle. The watch is regulated by URWERK’s exclusive dual turbine system, with one turbine absorbing shocks and the other controlling airflow to modulate automatic winding. A rear control allows the wearer to adjust or deactivate the rotor, with indicators at 11 and 1 o’clock displaying the settings.

At the core of the UR‑230 “Black Star” is the UR‑7.30 caliber, housed within a hermetically sealed titanium container designed as a mechanical safe. Surrounding this protected heart is a newly developed laminated composite ceramic case, created from braided ceramic, fibreglass, and carbon fibre integrated into a polymer matrix. When machined, the material reveals a glossy, relief‑like surface punctuated with sparkling micro‑reflections, producing a dense, vibrant black‑light texture. The case is paired with a black DLC titanium back, sapphire crystal, and a vulcanized rubber strap, reinforcing the watch’s fusion of technical innovation and futuristic design.

Limited to 35 pieces, the UR‑230 “Black Star” embodies a deep, living darkness that reveals light only on its own terms. Priced at 150,000 CHF (approx. $187,473 USD), it’s currently open for inquiry through URWERK’s official website.