I’ve never been in the habit of packing light, but that hurt me at Geneva Watch Days 2024. I was carrying a relatively heavy backpack stuffed with camera equipment, video kit and souvenirs for each day. Normally not an issue, but the heat and humidity in Geneva was no joke. Afterwards, my colleague Dave Sargent took me on a scenic route to the top of the old town to see the new Urwerk EMX SR-71. Thankfully, it was worth it.
People moan and complain about the terrible weather in the UK, but when I think back to my time in Germany and my most recent visit to Geneva, I prefer the occasional 17°C day in August to the sweltering heat of mainland Europe. And yet, Dave, an Englishman, was determined to make me yearn for the cool of London when we took the most circuitous route to the Urwerk boutique in Geneva’s old town. Stairs, winding cobbled streets, and a seemingly endless parade of Rexhep Rexhepi workshops accompanied our heavy steps. We were both soaked, but in the end, we got to see the Urwerk EMC SR-71 (and, yes, I forgave Dave).
Urwerk EMC SR-71
Before we dive deeper into the EMC SR-71, I should mention that my colleague Thomas provided me with a detailed overview of the watch a few weeks ago. The watch is a limited edition of 10 pieces celebrating the 10th anniversary of the original Urwerk EMC (short for Electro Mechanical Control). Apart from the funky design, the watch incorporates an optical sensor to measure the balance wheel of the in-house mechanical movement. This information is compared to a quartz module. The results of the mechanical movement’s accuracy are displayed on the dial in the upper left.
The idea is to test the watch in different environments and situations and quickly adjust the balance spring with a small screw on the back of the case. Is this all too geeky and complicated? Sure, but that’s why we love our pedantic and daring watches. As for the movement, the in-house hand-wound UR-EMC has a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 80 hours.
Turn up the EMC!
So where does this mechanical watch get its power? That’s where it gets interesting, because it has a folding crank on the side of the case. Unfold it to reveal a precisely crafted (think powdered metal) titanium crank and a small knurled handle. The wearer rotates this forward a few times, which generates enough power for the Maxon generator. Then they can press a button on the bottom left of the case to run an accuracy test. This process is cool, and feels precise, yet oddly robust for such a small object. What did it look like playing around with the EMC SR-71? I ran a test with the watch on a table, and the meter showed “0”. I then tried it diagonally in the air, and the deviation changed to -5 seconds. This is as expected, and also indicates that the system is working.
Where is the SR-71 useful?
Upon arriving at Urwerk (after some freezing cold wet wipes), our host brought us a tray of EMC SR-71s. Next to them were a sample crank and a big chunk of bent metal. Dreamland Aerospace, who collaborated with Urwerk on the project, acquired part of the fuselage of the famous spy plane. The idea was then born to use some of this material for the EMC crank. Titanium alloys have a high melting point, so an outside partner fabricated the part. Again, it’s a small detail, but the thought of having direct access to a part of the legendary SR-71 is fascinating. Really, when I was a kid, the SR-71 was everyone’s favorite plane!
Wearing the EMC SR-71
Watches like the EMC SR-71 are too “out there” or too weird for some people. I used to be one too, but I love looking at these watches and can’t help but be open-minded. On the wrist, the 47.55 x 49.57mm watch is oddly comfortable, thanks to its titanium construction and articulating lugs that work well with the fold-over, super-comfortable Velcro strap. In some ways, this watch felt like the world’s most expensive G-Shock, which I don’t think is an insult. In short, this watch is bulky yet comfortable.
Urwerk EMC SR-71 Blackbird
lastly
Urwerk will only make 10 numbered models of the EMC SR-71, which is probably an appropriate number. Priced at CHF 150,000, ownership is exclusive. Although the hike was hot, it was still one of the highlights of my trip to Geneva. Once I finally left the boutique and waded into the marsh, I quickly turned right and headed down the hill, arriving at the starting point about three minutes later.
For more information on the EMC SR-71, see Urwerk’s official website.
