Urwerk -

Origins

Born from the common vision of two boys: Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei. Felix is a third generation watchmaker trained at the Schaffausen school but above all at his father’s workbench. Martin has a much more artistic path, at the Lucerne school of art and design.
The random encounter between these two personalities reveals their common passion for time indication.

Inspiration

Both are in fact looking for a new way of interpreting watchmaking both from a technical and aesthetic point of view. From this research comes the famous “complication of satellites”, inspired by the 17th century night clocks.

Innovation

They decide to enclose this already innovative complication in cases with a true futuristic design. The result is so destabilizing that they have to present the watch with the most classic alligator strap. It is the nineties and these two young friends mark what we can call the beginning of independent watchmaking in its current form.

Urwerk today

But more than everything it was the determination and clarity of Felix and Martin’s vision to convince first the collectors and later the entire Swiss watch industry.

Today, after more than 20 years, Urwerk boasts great achievements certified also by the many awards received. The beauty of their first timepieces remain unchanged over time with a production that stands at around 150 watches per year.
The duo Baumgartner-Frei represents a unique example in contemporary watchmaking of how different skills and common goals, united by a strong desire for innovation, can bring a true change.