FELIX BAUMGARTNER
CO-FOUNDER & WATCHMAKER
URWERK
“It’s very important that we stay true to what we are. You just have to express yourself and somehow mirror your education, your passions and your love with what you know. You mix that together and then it comes out. It can be disturbing, but that’s the reason. That’s the reason of creation.”
Felix Baumgartner is a Swiss watchmaker and co-founder of Urwerk, a brand celebrated for its avant-garde personality. Born into a family of watchmakers, Felix was immersed in the world of horology from a young age. After refining his craft at the distinguished Solothurn watchmaking school, he went on to acquire experience with a range of high-end watch manufacturers. Felix’s deep respect for traditional watchmaking is balanced by his desire to push the boundaries of design and function.
In 1997, Felix co-founded Urwerk with designer Martin Frei. Together, they introduced a new way of reading time, abandoning conventional hands for innovative satellite and wandering hour displays. The brand’s debut model, the UR-101, set the tone for its future creations with its sci-fi aesthetics and mechanical complexity. Over the years, Urwerk has gained a reputation for breaking conventions, blending art and engineering to create watches that challenge traditional notions of time display.
Felix’s work highlights the potential of independent watchmaking to innovate beyond established norms. His watches have gained a dedicated following among collectors who appreciate technical ingenuity and radical design, making him a key figure in contemporary horology.
GPHG 2011
Design Watch Prize
UR-110
GPHG 2014
Mechanical Exception Watch Prize
EMC
GPHG 2014
Innovation Watch Prize
EMC
GPHG 2019
Audacity Prize
AMC
GPHG 2011
Design Watch Prize
UR-110
GPHG 2014
Innovation Watch Prize
EMC
GPHG 2014
Mechanical Exception Watch Prize
EMC
GPHG 2019
Audacity Prize
AMC
PRIX GAÏA 2020
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei