BEST TIME WARP

Ur-Freak watch, by Ulysse Nardin and Urwerk

-  HANNAH SILVER

Collaborations between watch brands can be very successful when each brand brings a strong visual identity of their own to the table, so when the richly traditional Swiss manufacture Ulysse Nardin announced a partnership with avant-garde Genevan watchmaker Urwerk, we were more than a little intrigued particularly as this is Ulysse Nardin's first collaboration with a fellow watchmaking brand.

On closer inspection, however, the pairing is not as surprising as it might seem as both brands have pursued a modern, technical-first approach over the last few years, with cultural moments overlapping on both their timelines. Founded by Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner in 1997, Urwerk has come to be defined by its futuristic watch design and hi-tech principles, as well as its use of a 'satellite' system for displaying the time.