Urwerk has released a limited edition SpaceTime Blade watch. They were made using Nixie tubes that display time data and astronomical measurements.
Urwerk is known for its collection of wristwatches, which are distinguished by intricate circuits and cases made of exotic materials. The company has taken a break from producing wristwatches and presented the world with another novelty – the SpaceTime Blade. This new watch is 1.7 meters long, weighs 20 kg, and is based on a large glass tube.
The developers claim that the main goal of the SpaceTime Blade is to recreate the early chronometers of the Middle Ages, which were supposed to reproduce the movements of celestial bodies. The Blade shows not only the time and date but also the distance the Earth travels during the day and year.
What it consists of
The watch is based on a bronze mechanical head made by casting. But the developers’ main pride is the domed glass tube that holds 8 Nixie tubes for the display. Each block of tubes consists of 10 0.1 mm thick steel cathodes, which are designed as numbers. When a current is passed through one of the metal numerals, it glows reddish-orange.
The clock works smoothly, but each Nixie bulb requires 88 hand-assembled parts, and the entire SpaceTime Blade clock consists of 1446 components. Using the included remote control, the SpaceTime Blade can display the hours, minutes, and seconds; the day, month, and year; and how many kilometers the Earth has traveled on that day, year, or on a particular date.