UR-230 POLARIS LIMITED EDITION OF 35

The URWERK UR-230 Polaris is a study in controlled power and luminous contrast. Where other expressions of the UR-230 explore darkness and raw materiality, Polaris is defined by light, precision, and a stark mineral presence. Inspired by the North Star, it stands as a navigational reference within the collection, bright, directional, and unmistakably technical.

Clad in white ceramic, the Polaris immediately distinguishes itself. The case reflects light rather than absorbing it, creating a sharp visual tension with the complexity of the mechanism beneath. This ceramic exterior is not decorative. It is architectural, clean, and deliberately uncompromising, reinforcing URWERK’s vision of watchmaking as functional sculpture.

A protected mechanical core

At the heart of the UR-230 Polaris lies Calibre UR-7.30, housed within a hermetic titanium container engineered as a mechanical safe. This inner shell isolates and protects the movement from shocks and external forces, ensuring reliability despite the watch’s unconventional display and kinetic energy.

Surrounding this core is a proprietary composite ceramic case developed specifically for and with URWERK. The material is constructed from layered ceramic sheets reinforced with fibreglass, creating a structure that balances rigidity, impact resistance, and visual purity. This multi-layered architecture allows the ceramic to retain its mineral whiteness while delivering far greater structural stability than traditional ceramic cases. A titanium caseback completes the assembly, ensuring durability and long-term wearability.

Light as a material

For Martin Frei, Polaris represents orientation and clarity. Named after the North Star, it evokes guidance and permanence rather than spectacle. The white ceramic does not soften the watch. Instead, it sharpens it, allowing shadows, depth, and motion to stand out even more clearly. Light becomes an active element, revealing the mechanics rather than competing with them.

Wandering hours in motion

The UR-230 Polaris displays time through URWERK’s signature satellite complication. Three cubic-hour satellites are mounted on a central carousel and travel across a 120-degree minute arc over the course of an hour.

The active hour is guided by a three dimensional openworked retrograde hand, which accompanies the satellite from 0 to 60 minutes. At the end of the hour, the hand snaps instantly back to zero, engaging the next satellite in a seamless mechanical sequence. The result is a dynamic, legible, and constantly moving display that turns time into choreography.

Dual turbine winding system

The UR-230 Polaris is self-winding and regulated by URWERK’s exclusive dual turbine system. One turbine absorbs shocks generated by wrist motion, while the second controls airflow within the winding system, acting as an aerodynamic brake to prevent excessive rotor speed.

A selector on the caseback allows the wearer to fine-tune the winding efficiency or completely disengage the automatic system, switching to manual winding if desired. Two indicators display these settings, reinforcing the instrument-like nature of the watch.

A defining expression of the UR-230

The UR-230 Polaris is not about restraint. It is about clarity. It captures URWERK’s experimental spirit in its most luminous form, combining advanced materials, kinetic mechanics, and a radical approach to time display.

A reference point within the UR-230 collection, Polaris is a watch that guides rather than follows, engineered for those who value direction, independence, and mechanical conviction.