Urwerk presents its iconic 103 with a steel case and not just any steel but an incredibly hard TiAlN-coated steel. With this new model, Urwerk blurs the frontier between horological art and cutting-edge technology. The coat of the steel 103.08 is the hardest known in the world of haute horlogerie.
TiAlN - Titanium Aluminum Nitride - treatment is well-known in industry for its exceptional properties. A TiAlN coating less than 4 microns thick has the effect of multiplying the resistance of the underlying metal to scratches, shocks, oxidation and even acids.
TiAlN is a hard material which can be used as protective coating to enhance the lifetime of a variety of work pieces against mechanical or chemical attacks. The 103.08 in TiAlN coated steel is the new jewel in the crown of Urwerk's 103 collection. The 103.08 is lighter than its gold and platinum stable mates, yet much harder. The proof is in the numbers:
Gold : 380 Vickers
Steel : 600 Vickers
TiAlN coat : 3500 Vickers
Sapphire: 4000 Vickers
(Vickers hardness test)
TiAIN is an application which was originally developed for industry. When machining metals, the first requirement is that the tool is harder than the material to be machined. Considerable research therefore goes into developing new methods of hardening. Urwerk use this process for the manufacture of all Urwerk tools. Its superb properties vis-a-vis oxidation and excellent resistance to wear, make TiAIN the coating of choice where thermal stresses are significant - TiAlN treated tools last much longer and can work at extreme temperature in excess of 800°C.
Attractive aesthetics can be added to TiAlN's technical superiority. Its colour is dependant on the Titanium/Aluminium ratio and can range from melting bronze to stormy black.
Watchluxus' view: very hard.
Click here to see the specifications for Urwerk's 103.08.
