Boutique brand Urwerk has never been one to shy away from fanciful concepts, with past designs inspired heavily by “Star Wars” and a recurring spot on the wrist of Robert Downey Jr. in his role as the high tech superhero Iron Man. It isn’t all about spaceships and robot suits for Urwerk, however, as for the second time the brand has designed a new limited edition variant with a decidedly more prehistoric feel. With a unique scaly case texture inspired by the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, the limited edition Urwerk UR-100V T-Rex adds a visceral, primal edge to one of the brand’s signature designs.

The unorthodox, angular 41mm claw shaped form of the limited edition Urwerk UR-100V T-Rex is shared with the rest of the UR-100V line, but the material and finishing are both totally unique. The main body of the case is made from bronze, with a bespoke alloy that results in a darker and more even patina than most bronze cases. The case is then run through a computer controlled milling station that engraves a scaly, variable diamond clous de Paris pattern on the case top. To finish this reptilian look, Urwerk then submits the case to sand blasting and a proprietary biochemical burnishing process that leads to a matte, greenish gray finish with hints of the original bronze tone as highlights. Like other variations of the UR-100V, this primeval, organic look is punctuated by the arching domed sapphire crystal, while the sapphire display caseback is ringed with black PVD titanium to ensure no patina contacts the wearer’s skin. Water resistance remains a weak point of this case, with Urwerk claiming a depth rating of only 30 meters.

The UR-100V’s unique satellite wandering hours display makes an appearance in this new model, including the rearranged hours and minutes indicators first seen in 2020’s UR-100V Iron, but the UR-100V T-Rex adds an aggressive new colorway. The wide inner bezel that tracks the speed of Earth’s rotation and revolution at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock respectively is given the same burnished bronze treatment as the case, offering a cohesive unified feel to the entire design. Along the 6 o’clock side of the dial, the minutes scale is reimagined in matte black with vibrant neon green numerals, a striking reptilian color echoed in the printed Arabic numerals of the rotating hours disks. The blood red arrow pointer at the end of each arm of the rotating central Geneva cross further reinforces this dinosaurian feel in images, while aiding in quick legibility.

Urwerk powers the limited edition UR-100V T-Rex with its in-house UR 12.02 automatic movement. The view through the caseback is dominated by the brand’s proprietary Windfänger turbine and planetary gear winding rotor, designed to reduce excessive winding and strain on the mainspring assembly. The gear train is ornate and fascinating, with a series of rotating Geneva crosses revolving around a central point to dive the hours and minutes display. Performance is solid, with a 48 hour power reserve at a 28,800 bph beat rate.

In a fitting match for the dinosaur inspiration, Urwerk fits the limited edition UR-100V T-Rex with a semi-integrated asymmetrical strap in black alligator leather. This highly textured material emphasizes the scaly pattern of the case, while remaining a versatile and neutral choice for regular wear.

While remaining mechanically similar to previous iterations of the line, the new materials and finishing of the limited edition Urwerk UR-100V T-Rex add an animalistic new dimension to an already striking design. Only 22 examples of the Urwerk UR-100V T-Rex will be made, available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of 50,000 CHF. For more information, visit the brand’s website.