The URWERK UR-100V Time and Culture III: A Spiritual and Artistic Timepiece Rooted in Georgian Heritage

URWERK’s (urwerk.com) latest horological creation is not merely a timepiece—it is a spiritual artifact, a miniature museum of time, faith, and craftsmanship. The UR-100V Time and Culture III marks the newest chapter in the brand’s “Time and Culture” series, a collection dedicated to the foundational ways humans have understood and expressed time across civilizations. This singular edition, crafted in collaboration with the David Kakabadze studio in Tbilisi, Georgia, draws its visual soul from the Georgian Orthodox tradition and centuries-old Christian legend.

​The watch’s dial is an extraordinary display of cloisonné enamel and miniature painting in 24-karat gold. It took 1,152 days to complete, employing 19 different enamels and 16 firings at 750°C—an epic process that reflects the age-old mastery of the Kakabadze atelier. Inspired by the zodiac frescoes of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the dial pays homage to the story of Sidonia and Christ’s robe, featuring a luminous depiction of Christ encircled by 12 celestial symbols that represent 12 cycles of time: 12 months, 12 hours, and 12 constellations.

Beneath the artwork, the technical powerhouse that is URWERK’s Caliber UR 12.02 drives the brand’s signature wandering hour satellite display. As Felix Baumgartner, URWERK’s co-founder, puts it, “Our goal is not to offer yet another reinterpretation of an all-too-well-familiar mechanical complication.” Instead, URWERK focuses on originality and boundary-breaking design, balancing avant-garde vision with impeccable horological execution.

That balance defines the brand itself. Since 1997, URWERK has stood at the intersection of fine watchmaking and radical creativity, with only 150 pieces produced annually. As Martin Frei, artistic director and co-founder, explains, “I come from a world where creative freedom knows no limits.” With the UR-100V Time and Culture III, that freedom finds form in a timepiece that is both technically audacious and reverently beautiful—a singular work of art that transcends time.