So being the first of its kind, an explanation of your function is in order. Before you claw at your face in despair at the quality of internet writing nowadays and glare at my seemingly rash use of pronouns, let me explain why I have intertwined watch wearer and watch in my description of functions.
You see a winding efficiency indicator does not indicate the efficiency of the timepiece but rather the efficiency of its wearer.
Power Reserve Indicator
Above the Urwerk's remarkable display of time ,I will come to that later, at the one 'o'clock position there resides a relatively unassuming power reserve indicator. Unassuming as it is, the complication of a power reserve indicator serves a very useful function. For a mechanical watch to run at a regular rate it is imperative that 30% of the mainspring is wound. The power reserve indicator displays the amount of tension of the mainspring at any moment and the amount of time the watch will function when not worn.
For the power reserve to always be in the "green" so too speak, a watch must be worn for at least 10-15 hours a day. However merely wearing a watch does not mean one is actually winding the mainspring. One may be wearing the watch at ones desk for hours at a time or watching 24 hour reruns of Star Trek for hours at a time not really moving ones wrist at all. These activities are not really conducive to optimal automatic winding motion, since it is the swinging motion of ones arm which moves the oscillating weight thereby winding the mainspring.
Winding Efficiency Indicator
So how does one know if one's activities actually wind the watch?
That is where the Urwerk UR-210 "winding efficiency indicator" becomes handy.
The "winding efficiency indicator" is located at the 11'o'clock and displays ones winding efficiency over the last 2 hours. Sitting in your armchair watching reruns of Star trek, your efficiency indicator will be firmly placed on RED (in other words - you are being inefficient ). If you happen to get up and walk Porthos the dog well then your efficiency indicator will jump into the green.
Winding Efficiency Selector
However Urwerk is not a weight loss watch company and understands if you have no time to run around and swing your arms all day, so Urwerk has developed a movement to meet your energy needs. With the knowledge that you are not a mover or swinger, you can use the Winding Efficiency Selector discretely located at the back of the watch. The Winding Efficience Selector has three options "FULL", "REDUCED" and "STOP"
"FULL" - If the Winding Efficiency Indicator shows up in the red, you can either become active or select the "FULL" option on your Winding Efficiency Indicator. What this will do is convert even the slightest motion into stored energy. In this mode a turbine connected to the rotor aids in a smooth transfer of power from rotor to storage.
"REDUCED" - If one is very active one can opt for the REDUCED mode triggering a "rotor damping system".
Rotor Damping System
The Rotor Damping System comprising of an air turbine compressor is placed on ruby bearings and spins creating internal resistance. The function of this is to create sufficient friction to slow down the rotor.
"STOP" - This mode entirely disables the automatic winding system essentially converting the watch to manual wind.
Time Display
Although Urwerk's time displays are always highly original, the originality does not effect the ease of readability. Urwerk's displays are a breeze to read and so very very clever. The UR-210 utilizes its signature retrograde minute display indicated by an ultra large hand framing the current hour. The satellite hours always remind me of the earths orbit - turning around its own access at the correct hour and orbiting the central access. There are three four sided satellites with a different hour marked on each side. The minute hand moves along the display taking the current hour along for the ride. At the end of the 59th minute, a flurry of activity occurs - in rapid procession of a mere tenth of a second. The minute hand springs back meeting up with the correct hour. The transition is smooth - components performing in utter symphony.
Retail Price $145,000
UR-210 - Technical Specifications
Indications: Patented revolving satellite complication with wandering hour and three-dimensional retrograde minute hand; power reserve indicator; winding efficiency indicator (patent pending).
Super-LumiNova treatment on markers, dials, indexes, hands, and satellites
Controls: Two-position winding crown On the back: winding efficiency selector
Case
Material: Titanium and steel
Dimensions: Width 43.8mm, length 53.6mm, thickness 17.8mm
Glasses: Sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 30m/100’/3ATM
Surface finishes: Satinized
Movement
Caliber: UR-7.10
Jewels: 51
Escapement: Swiss lever
Balance: Monometallic
Frequency: 28,800v/h, 4Hz
Balance spring: Flat
Power source: Single mainspring barrel
Power reserve: 39 hours
Winding system: Automatic-winding coupled to turbines
Materials: Plate in ARCAP P40; 3D minute hand in aluminum with brass counterweight; central cylindrical spiral in spring-steel; hour satellites in aluminium; central carrousel and screws in Titanium Grade 5.
Surface finishes: Circular graining, sandblasted, circular and straight satin-finished plate; satin-finished and diamond-polished satellites; beveled and polished screw heads.
No comments:
Post a Comment