A watch that bites as hard as it dazzles, the UR-150 Blue Scorpion turns time into a living spectacle. URWERK once again proves that rebellion and artistry can share the same stage.
URWERK’s UR-150 gets a new upgrade this Geneva Watch Days, with the deadly sting of the blue scorpion being the inspiration behind the timepiece. The UR-150 is truly an unconventional and futuristic design, which reflects URWERK’s philosophy perfectly, of never following the rules and always playing on its own. The UWERK UR-150 Blue Scorpion is a machine that stings as much as it dazzles.
With its bold mix of sci-fi architecture and cutting-edge mechanics, the Blue Scorpion feels less like a watch and more like a piece of wearable engineering. The watch embodies the brand’s relentless pursuit of originality, where function and spectacle merge into one. Geneva Watch Days has always been a stage for the daring independent brands, and with this latest iteration of the iconic UR-150, URWERK has once again proven why it remains one of the most fearless names in contemporary watchmaking.
Case Design
The case construction of the URWERK UR-150 Blue Scorpion is split into two parts. The first is the case middle, which is made of steel (sandblasted; micro-beaded; satin finish on top and flanks), while the case back is constructed in Grade 5 titanium (sandblasted; micro-beaded; diamond-satin finish). The domed sapphire crystal follows the shape of the case, in which the case then extends out seamlessly to connect with the rubber strap. The case measures 42.5mm x 51mm x 14.8mm thick, and while this may seem large on paper, the ergonomic design is created for a sculpted fit on the wrist.
Dial Design
URWERK’s signature satellite dial comes to life in this new Blue Scorpion-inspired dial. The constantly rotating carousel features three-hour satellites that move around the dial in mesmerising fashion. The active satellite that indicates the current hour is highlighted by a retrograde hand done in fluorescent yellow to beautifully contrast against the blue background. This retrograde hand simultaneously also indicates the minutes from 0 to 60, shown from 2 o’clock to the 10 o’clock position. Once it reaches the 60th minute mark, this retrograde hand performs a lightning-fast 240° return, while the three satellites each pivot on their axis and simultaneously rotate 270°. As the retrograde hand snaps back to the 0-minute mark, the next active satellite perfectly lines up in position to restart the sequence again, thus displaying the next hour and consequent minutes.
“All the cards in the hours game are shuffled and redealt in a hundredth of a second. The dial transforms before our eyes – so fast that it is barely perceptible to the naked eye. Just beneath the domed glass, the mechanism seems almost within reach – and the Scorpion’s sting lurks silently. The satellites nonetheless pivot and regroup at each new hour, escaping our perception by their sheer speed. Each time, there is a brief moment of uncertainty, a slight unease, a silent tension that whispers: perhaps this time, the right number will not appear… And yet the magic happens, instilling a fresh sense of wonder.”
URWERK’s artistic director and co-founder Martin Frei
Movement
The movement sitting inside is the UR-50.01 with an automatic winding system that is governed by a double turbine. Operating at a high frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH) and with a power reserve of 43 hours, this highly complex movement aims to astonish the wearer through its retrograde display combined with smooth operating satellites. The beauty of this movement lies in its ability to have the satellites transition fluidly with the retrograde minutes display, so that each new hour satellite makes its transition at the 60-minute mark, and the retrograde hand snaps back to pick it up. This articulated “hand”, a high-precision metal skeleton, is powered by a rack and cam performing three functions: defining its trajectory, synchronising the jumps and multiplying the energy available to power the satellites’ rotation.
“Here, the real complexity doesn’t lie in the number of components, but rather in the precision of their interaction. Everything must work in perfect harmony: power, inertia, fluidity. We have designed every spring and every gear train to maximize energy efficiency.”
Felix Baumgartner
Initial Thoughts
The URWERK UR-150 Blue Scorpion is the kind of watch that makes you stop and remind yourself why independent brands like this exist. This is not just a watch you strap to your wrist to tell the time. It’s an experience, a small burst of theatre with every passing hour. The case itself is a sculpture, the dial is a kinetic stage, and the movement is a technical ballet hidden just beneath the sapphire dome.
What impresses me the most about this timepiece is the way the watch manages to feel alive. The quick snap of the retrograde hand as it resets, the constant shuffling of the satellites, along with the bold flashes of colour, give this new blue scorpion an energy that few timepieces can match. URWERK has once again blurred the line between timekeeping and spectacle, and the Blue Scorpion is proof that the brand’s rebellious spirit is still very much stinging at full force.
Specification: URWERK UR-150 Blue Scorpion
- Dimensions: 42.50mm x 51mm x 14.80mm thick
- Case Material: Case middle in steel (sandblasted; micro-beaded; satin finish on top and flanks). Case back in Grade 5 titanium (sandblasted; micro-beaded; diamond-satin finish).
- Dial: Black skeletonised framework with Aston Martin green hour indices and skeletonised hands. Small-seconds at 10 o’clock. Hours satellite in aluminium on a flying carousel in brass (fine sandblasted and micro-beaded), Retrograde hand in aluminium (fine sandblasted and satin-brushed). Liga processed wheels. Blue ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) colour treatment
- Water Resistance: 50m (5 Bar)
- Movement: UR-50.01 with an automatic winding system governed by a double turbine
- Movement Power reserve: 43 hours operating at 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
- Bracelet/Strap: High-performance hybrid rubber, adjustable, with folding clasp