Hands-On With the Urwerk UR-105M Dark Knight

Back in April, we broke the news that Urwerk would be releasing two medieval-themed watches, the “Iron Knight” and the “Dark Knight,” both featuring an angular steel armor bezel. The subject of inspiration created some uncertainty when the news first broke. After all, the Middle Ages is not an era the Swiss industry draws from very often.

But after making a comeback of sorts in popular culture, with audience pleaser Game of Thrones, it is now making its way onto our wrists. Below is MB&F’s HM6, another watch with a shield – retractable this time – over its tourbillion cage.

The concern focused on the angular shape of the UR-105M. Although it’s a feature we’ve come to expect from Urwerk, following the UR-210 AITiN and the UR-202 White Shark, the idea of wearing a miniature shield that doesn’t much look like a medieval shield felt uncertain. How would it look on the wrist? Well, we were able to find out during SalonQP 2014, and the medieval-inspired Urwerk UR-105M “Dark Knight” looks anything but stuck in the Middle Ages.

Despite the dimensions of the case – an impressive 39.50mm x 53mm – the UR-105M doesn’t feel like an invasion of personal space. It won’t fit under the cuff, but then again it’s meant for collectors who want peers to notice. And while it’s quite exposed, the shield-like watch can take a knock or two.

It’s there to protect the goods, in this ‘case’, the new UR 5.01 movement, a manually-wound movement which combines the brand’s popular satellite display with added indicators. For more on these watches, please click here.

The “Dark Knight” UR-105M is available in a limited edition of 77 numbered pieces, retailing for 63,000 CHF.

For more, visit the official Urwerk website.