Urwerk UR-101 T-REX: When a Watch Channels a Dinosaur’s Roar
Let’s be honest—when’s the last time a watch made you feel like you were touching a prehistoric relic? Urwerk’s latest, the UR-101 T-REX, isn’t just a timepiece. It’s a sensory showdown. Priced at $45,000 USD (CHF 38,000), this 100-piece limited edition doesn’t whisper. It growls.
A Case That Bites Back
Hold the UR-101 T-REX, and your fingertips trace something primal. The bronze case, hand-guillochéd with jagged grooves deeper than Grand Canyon crevices, mimics Tyrannosaurus scales. Co-founder Martin Frei calls bronze “alive”—and he’s right. Unlike static steel, this metal darkens with every touch, its patina evolving like leather. “Scratch it, and it heals itself,” Frei muses, comparing it to skin. The effect? A case that looks excavated from a Jurassic dig site but polished by modern obsession.
Even the lugs snarl. Curving asymmetrically (higher at 12 o’clock, sloping to 7), they hug the wrist like armor. Flip it over, and the black PVD-coated steel caseback whispers stealth—a stark contrast to the bronzed bravado upfront.
Movement: Where Nostalgia Meets Grit
Inside beats the UR-1.01V, a caliber that co-founder Felix Baumgartner calls a “homecoming.” Forget rotating cubes or turbines—this is Urwerk stripped raw. Two satellites glide across a 180-degree arc, their wandering hours painted with Super-LumiNova® for a ghostly glow. It’s simpler than the UR-105 T-REX’s movement, sure, but that’s the point. “Our first challenge was moving a carousel 150 times heavier than hands,” Baumgartner recalls, nodding to 1995 prototypes crafted with mentor Svend Andersen.
The result? A mechanism that’s less Star Trek, more Mad Max—rugged, unfiltered, and unapologetically mechanical.
Wear It Like a Second Skin
At 41mm wide and 11.86mm thick, the T-REX shouldn’t fit so… intuitively. But press it to your wrist, and the curved caseback tucks between radius and ulna like it’s fossilized there. The crown puller—a “spoiler” lifted from the original UR-101—adds a dash of spaceship pragmatism. Fun fact: That ergonomic tilt? Inspired by the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit, ensuring the dial leans into your sightline like a pilot’s console.
Specs That Matter
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case Material | Hand-patinated bronze, black PVD steel caseback |
| Movement | UR-1.01V self-winding, 28,800 vph, 48h power reserve |
| Dimensions | 41mm diameter, 11.86mm thickness |
| Water Resistance | 30m (3ATM) |
| Strap | Black rubber with calfskin lining, DLC-coated buckle |
| Lume | Super-LumiNova® on hours/minutes |
| Price | $45,000 USD (CHF 38,000) |
The UR-101 T-REX isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s for those who want their wristwear to provoke—to feel less like a tool and more like a talisman. Between the Bronze Age textures and spaceship ergonomics, Urwerk hasn’t just made a watch. They’ve bottled lightning. And at $45k, it’s a roaring steal compared to its $56k UR-102 sibling.
So, ready to wear a dinosaur? Better move fast—only 100 will ever roar.
Why does the UR-101 T-REX use bronze?
Bronze evolves with wear, developing a rich patina that mimics skin’s natural regeneration—scratch it, and it re-oxidizes, deepening its earthy tone without greening.
How limited is Urwerk UR-101 T-REX edition?
Only 100 pieces exist, making it a rare collectible for avant-garde watch enthusiasts.
What’s special about the Urwerk UR-1.01V movement?
It revives Urwerk’s early satellite “wandering hours” tech, using a snailed carrousel and Maltese cross for precision—a nod to 1990s innovation.
Why the Millennium Falcon reference for Urwerk UR-101 T-REX?
The ergonomic case shape mirrors the Falcon’s contours, nestling like a spacecraft on your wrist.
