DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles
Urban Jürgensen is one of the watch brands known only between the connoisseurs. The brand’s timepieces are, without exceptions, examples of haute horlogerie masterpieces. Not only are the final products are beautiful, but the manufacturing processes are extraordinary. The brand is still using old horological techniques. This requires not only time but also exceptional craftsmanship. The watches are collection pieces for entire generations of enthusiast collectors. A magnificent example is the Urban Jürgensen Reference 1741.
Please be advised, the article contains a high number of superlatives.
The birth of a dynasty
There are not too many watch brands on the market with a rich family history as the Danish Jürgensen. The Urban Jürgensen brand’s name can be tracked in time to 1745, the birth year of the Jürgen Jürgensen. Jürgen was 14 years old when he started his apprenticeship under the instruction of Johan Jacob Lincke, a respected Copenhagen watchmaker. Between 1766 and 1772, Jürgen Jürgensen did his journeyman years, and traveled through Europe. In 1768, he stopped in Le Locle, Switzerland, and worked for Jacques-Frédéric Houriet. After his return in Copenhagen in 1773, Jürgen makes a partnership with Isaac Larpent and both open a workshop “Larpent & Jürgensen”. In 1781, they start to produce pocket watches and by 1784, Jürgen Jürgensen is appointed to the Dutch Court as Horologist to King Fredrik VI.
In 1776 Urban Jürgensen, Jürgen’s son was born. Urban went to Le Locle, in 1797, to study precision timekeeping with his father’s friend – Houriet. A year later, Urban traveled to Paris to become apprentice to Abraham-Louis Breguet and Ferdinand Berthoud. His next destination was London to Breguet’s friend, John Arnold. With a list of masters like that, it was indeed a great start to an illustrious career. In 1804, Urban Jürgensen publishes “General principles concerning timekeeping by clocks and watches”. And in 1810, he began the production of marine chronometers and later supplied the Danish Admiralty, being also the Danish Court supplier of fine timepieces. In 1822, Urban announced the detached double wheel chronometer escapement. Two years later is invested Knight of the Dannebrog Order.
The entire construction of the Reference 1741 is elegant with well executed finishes, hiding special manufacturing skills and knowledge
With his sons, Louis Urban and Jules Frederik, Urban Jürgensen continues to take care of the workshops under the name Urban Jürgensen & Sønner (UJS). In 1834, Jules Jürgensen starts production in Le Locle under the name “Jules Jürgensen Copenhagen”. Meanwhile, his brother continues his work in Copenhagen. Interestingly, in 1850, German watchmaker, Moritz Grossmann worked for him in the workshop. In 1867, Jules patented a new hand setting mechanism. Between 1834 to 1912, UJS wins 34 international awards. One of their clients was celebrated Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.
The Jürgensen line continues to run the watchmaking house, and only ends in 1912 with the death of Jacques Alfred Jürgensen. The modern history of the brand starts in 1979 with Peter Baumberger, a passionate watchmaker and collector, as manager of USJ. He receives the permission to sign his […]
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Article from: DEPLOYANT – Luxury watch reviews & horological lifestyles, by Dan-Andrei Kluska
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