Frei, Martin

Frei, Martin

URWERK founding partner and Chief Designer

"After studying visual design and arts I came in contact with a wide variety of influences and cultures. When the world of horology opened its doors to me, I entered with all my artistic luggage in tow. I did not find having an art background limiting, instead, my art opened new horizons to watch design. Technique, concept and estheticism, are, above all, acts of creation."

1966 Born in Winterthur, Switzerland. Martin's father was an engineer making machines for basic research while his mother was his first art teacher.
1987 Diploma in Graphic Design from the School of Visual Arts, Zurich. 1989 Bachelor of Arts at the Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst in Luzern, Switzerland. There as a student of Roman Signer, an internationally renowned Swiss artist 1990 one year course on Video and Film at the Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst in Luzern.
1991 Met Thomas Baumgartner at a New Year's party in Luzern.
1994 Founded an Artist group called U.S.A.- United Swiss Artists - in Lucerne with artist-friends. U.S.A. did exhibitions, videos and performances.
1995 Meeting with Thomas and Felix Baumgartner to discuss a watch. Came up with the name URWERK and sketches for the first 101/102.
1997 Co-founds URWERK SA with Felix and Thomas Baumgartner. Their goal: to design and craft haute horlogerie timepieces blending tradition with futuristic vision. Presents first watch at Basel with the AHCI: the UR-101.