Introducing: The Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green” — Not All Green, Not All Gray, But Definitely An Urwerk
Urwerk is confused. The brand doesn’t know if its new watch has a green or gray face, and a compromise entered the name. The Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green” is sober green with hints of cool gray. Hunter green — Hex code #2c5f34 — is a lush, cool-toned green color between blue and green. If you want to mix the color yourself, you’ll need 17.3% red, 37.3% green, and 20.4% blue. Once you’ve done so, the color might evoke feelings of balance and peace like you feel when standing in a vast forest. What happens when you put on the Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green,” I wonder…
Urwerk befuddles me. First, the press release talks about how its new UR-100V “Hunter Green” shifts colors between gray and green but then says the watch’s shade tends towards ash green with a subtle metallic quality. But if the watch’s elusive color is best described in a hue with the Hex code #c3cfa7, why not name it UR-100V “Ash Green?” I think I know the answer. “Hunter green” sounds better than “ash green,” and in the end, a name is but a name. If you call a watch with a blue dial “fire red,” its color won’t magically change. And the name Urwerk chose doesn’t change how the watch looks, but it does change people’s perception of it. Naming this new variation on the sporty UR-100V theme “Hunter Green” evokes thoughts of exploring the great outdoors and being close to Mother Nature.
Introducing the Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green,” a watch that should bring out your inner forester
In Urwerk’s eyes, the members of the UR-100V product family display technical and visual minimalism. Yes, there is something sober about the case shape and the bracelet, but the carefully designed and crafted timepiece is also very sophisticated. Just like the UR-100V Magic T, the use of titanium captures the essence of the watch. The grayness of the alloy and the brushed finish shout technicity and futurism.
Martin Frei created the shapes and a unique aesthetic design language, while Felix Baumgartner, the other Urwerk founding partner, invented and reinvented the satellite-type wandering hours. Reading time without the help of traditional hands might seem challenging at first, but a little effort goes a long way. Interestingly, the hours satellite crosses a graduated arc to indicate the minutes with a lemon-yellow arrow. Once the satellite’s 60 minutes are up, a new one bearing the next hour appears. The result is similar to a slightly poetic mechanical ballet and a nod to watch history. A 17th-century clock served as a source of inspiration for the mechanism. The reimagined result is a fascinating choreography of moving parts.
Not functional but fascinating
Telling the time is its primary function, but this watch also displays something much less practical. On the left side of the flange, the Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green” displays the 555 kilometers that Earth covers over 20 minutes as it rotates on its axis. On the right side, the second display shows the 35,740 kilometers that Earth travels in 20 minutes as it revolves around the Sun.
Although I haven’t had the chance to try on the Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green” yet, I do know that the titanium bracelet is one of the watch’s highlights. The bracelet on the very gray UR-100V FTJ, which I have some experience with, feels solid despite its lack of weight. Also, the finishing is excellent, and the bracelet looks the part because it perfectly matches the clean-cut design of the case.
The Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green” is a limited edition of just 35 timepieces and could be an interesting “alternative” for those in the market for a high-end luxurious sports watch with an integrated bracelet. Just look at the lines of the case and bracelet. This Urwerk combines elements of the most highly sought-after and iconic sports watches and adds a fair dose of avant-garde technicality with a dynamic design.
I have tried to imagine what it would be like to wear the Urwerk UR-100V “Hunter Green” and if its colors would indeed evoke thoughts of a long walk in a wild forest. I will request a loaner from Urwerk to see if the watch with its green face will actually do so. Stay tuned.
