Skip to main content

This Urwerk watch might be the stealthiest watch ever made

This watch was made with pieces of an aircraft

Urwerk EMC SR-71 watch.
Urwerk

Enthusiasts love the unique, the bold, and the absolutely insane things watchmakers come up with. This release from Urwerk ticks all the boxes, with the EMC SR-71 its crowning achievement. Using pieces from one of the most famed aircraft to touch the sky, this EMC model is embedded with parts from the SR-71 Blackbird. This is how Dr. Roman Sperl and Jason Sarkoyan came up with the idea to put these together to create what might be known as the most phenomenal watch ever made.

Urwerk EMC-SR71 specs

The Urwerk EMC SR-71 watch.
Urwerk

Talk about a watch to make a statement — this Urwerk masterpiece soars with details that have already made it legendary in the horological world. Meaning Electronic Mechanical Control, the EMC SR-71 is a revamp of the original EMC Urwerk released in 2014. Commemorating 10 years of this gorgeous vision, only 10 pieces were crafted, making this an exclusive club.

  • 80-hour power reserve
  • UR-EMC manual windup
  • On-demand electrical chronometric reading using an EMC system
  • SR-71 alloy crank handle
  • Crystal sapphire case measuring 49.57mm long, 47.55mm wide, and 17.58mm thick
  • Water resistant up to 30 meters
  • Operates using a 16,000,000Hz electronic oscillator
  • Aeronautical-inspired NATO strap
Recommended Videos

The movement is made in-house and goes through rigorous tests over a 30-day period to ensure the ultimate conditions for precision timekeeping. Inspired by the aeronautical safety straps in the jet, the strap is leather and nylon. The case is not dainty and will take up space on your wrist, but that’s what you want wearing a piece like this.

The SR-71 Blackbird

The back of the Urwerk EMC SR-71 watch.
Urwerk Watches

The SR-71 Blackbird, a stealth plane able to hit Mach3+ speeds, was used in the U.S. Air Force from the 1960s until the 1990s. It still holds records as the fastest manned plane and for spending the most time in enemy territory. This indestructible jet was never captured by an enemy, though it wasn’t completely indestructible. 

A Blackbird with the model number 61-7970 went down in 1970 around El Paso, Texas, after colliding with a refueling tanker. Don’t worry, both the pilot and Reconnaissance Systems Officer made it through the crash safely. Parts for this Urwerk watch—the screw-down bezel and the crank handle — are made from the jet’s fuselage. The fuselage is extraordinary because it was a mix of titanium and an unknown secret alloy. 

Sperl and Sarkoyan founded the company Dreamland and, in 2020, showed up at the headquarters of Urwerk with the idea. Everyone went crazy for this achievement integrating Blackbird bits into the EMC.

Other details to notice

Though only the crank handle and screw-down bezel are from an actual SR-71 Blackbird, there are other nods to the jet on this limited-edition piece.

  • Iconic four dials showing power reserve and precision, seconds, minutes, and hours
  • SR-71 on the tip of the running seconds hand
  • Black matte finish to match the SR-71 fuselage

Keep looking at this work of art, and more details will delight you as they reveal themselves. The setup of the dials makes you feel like you could be in the cockpit of a Blackbird, and the fun pop of the SR-71 on the seconds indicator is a stealthy touch. It exudes craftsmanship and intrigue and is a creation almost more than watch that you have to have. With a price of $176,000 and only 10 for sale, you will have to fly at Mach3 to get one. 

Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
Topics
Nicks Boots and Carl Murawski drop a boot made for the long haul
Nicks Boots, Carl Murawski launch new boot
lace up Nicks boots

Known for their work boots and heritage silhouettes, Nicks Boots is once again elevating your footwear with the goal of maximum durability and comfort. Just in time for their yearly collaboration, Nicks Boots is reuniting with Carl Murawski for a new boot designed for style and meant to last for years. As with most of the shoes in Nicks Boots’ lineup, this latest pair is designed to blend ruggedness with a refined element, creating a work boot that you can wear off-hours. While featuring various stylish elements, these boots are designed to be worn, and their personalized aging features allow them to patina over time, becoming even more of a fashion statement. 

Nicks Boots and Carl Murawski introduce The Blackwood

Read more
Marathon unveils special edition Canadian flag timepiece
Marathon Watch Unveils Limited-Edition ADANAC Red Maple in Honor of Canadian Flag’s 60th Anniversary
LIMITED EDITION 41MM SSNAV-D AUTO TYPE II - PILOT'S AUTOMATIC

In a grand celebration of Canadian heritage, Marathon Watch Company recently released the ADANAC Red Maple Stainless Steel Navigator Pilot’s Automatic — a limited edition timepiece paying homage to the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag. Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, this exclusive combines military-grade precision with patriotic design, making it an essential for collectors and proud Canadians alike.

A striking homage to Canadian pride

Read more
Killer tribute: Seiko’s Jaws Turtle honors Spielberg’s masterpiece
Seiko celebrates cinema's greatest shark with commemorative Turtle diver watch
Seiko jaws watch promopic

Seiko has unveiled a special tribute to one of cinema's most influential films with the Prospex Jaws 50th Anniversary Limited Edition, marking half a century since Steven Spielberg's masterpiece revolutionized Hollywood and invented the summer blockbuster.
The collaboration with Universal Pictures transforms Seiko's beloved "Turtle" diver into a sophisticated homage to the 1975 film that terrified audiences and changed the movie industry forever. Limited to 5,000 pieces, the commemorative timepiece (ref. SRPL81) will be available in July 2025 for $795.
First introduced in 1976 as reference 6306, just one year after Jaws terrorized audiences, Seiko's "Turtle" earned its nickname from the distinctive cushion case that resembled a turtle shell. The watch established Seiko's reputation in the dive watch space during the brand's golden era of the 1970s.
This commemorative interpretation maintains the Turtle's fundamental DNA while incorporating subtle dial graphics to honor the film. The 45mm stainless steel case features a 47.7mm lug-to-lug measurement and 13.2mm thickness, staying true to the modern Turtle's proportions.
Within its ceramic bezel insert, the dial showcases bold graphics with a gradient effect that transitions from silver to blue, representing the ocean's surface. An embossed shark silhouette lurks beneath, visible at certain angles but not immediately obvious. Like Spielberg's approach, the diver suggests the threat rather than showing it outright.
The blood-red Jaws logo at 6 o'clock, matching the red second hand tip, provides the only direct movie reference on the dial face. Positioned where it won't interfere with legibility, it maintains the watch's status as a functional tool. Chunky indices and hands coated in LumiBrite ensure visibility underwater, while the day-date display at 3 o'clock features Seiko's signature cyclops lens magnification.
Powering this commemorative piece is Seiko's 4R36 caliber, an automatic movement with hand-winding capability that's become a fan favorite in the enthusiast community. With 24 jewels, 41-hour power reserve, and hacking seconds function, it represents solid middle-tier Japanese engineering.
The real treat appears on the caseback, where a laser-engraved image of Quint's boat, the Orca, pays homage to one of cinema's most memorable characters, portrayed by Robert Shaw. Each watch features its specific edition number out of 5,000 pieces engraved on the caseback.
The watch arrives on a dark blue silicone strap and comes in a commemorative collector's box featuring the movie's iconic poster. The 200-meter water resistance and screw-down crown ensure this tribute piece can handle real diving duties.
The Seiko Prospex Jaws 50th Anniversary Limited Edition will be available through authorized Seiko dealers starting July 2025.

Read more