A Strong Foundation
Urban Jürgensen have a rich and varied history, dating back to the late 18th Century. The manufactures namesake, Urban Jürgensen (1776-1830), along with his father Jürgen Jürgensen, have long been credited with introducing the watch industry to Denmark. Shortly after the birth of his son in 1776, Jürgen Jürgensen moved to Le Locle in Switzerland to work with Jacques-Frédéric Houriet, laying the foundations for a Danish-Swiss connection which still exists over 240 years later.
In 1985, the brand was acquired by Peter Baumberger, who together with master English horologist Derek Pratt, set about carrying forward a legacy of elegant and complicated timepieces, whilst pioneering concepts of performance, stability and movement aesthetics. The Reference 2, epitomises this period of the brand's history in the best possible way.
The Design
The 38 mm platinum case of this Reference 2, features the brand’s distinctive teardrop lugs and convex bezel. Forged separately from the case, the classic teardrop lugs are carefully heat-treated, hand-polished and individually soldered into place using mid-century horological methods, with no visible soldering line.
A fine, outer chapter ring with minute markers is separated from an inner polished chapter of black (inked) Roman numerals, forming a nice contrast against the monochromatic appearance of the dial and case. The centre of the dial occupies yet another section, decorated by a diamond-guilloché pattern. A cartouche at twelve o'clock references “Urban Jürgensen Copenhagen”. All parts are hand-crafted from beginning to end; including the slender, solid-gold ‘observatoire’ hour and minute hands.
At twelve o'clock, the aperture for the moonphase is shown, adding further level of depth to the dial. This understated display also displays a basket-work pattern beneath, encasing the unique reference number of the watch. The large subsidiary register at six o'clock is decorated by more hand-turned, basket-work patterning, enclosed within the polished date chapter. The dates themselves centre around a slender gold indicator, with an elegant counter-balance at one end; a subtle mirroring of the crescent shaped moonphase aperture.
The Movement
The ultra-slim Frédéric Piguet calibre is expertly-finished and elaborately hand-decorated, featuring a 21k gold guilloche rotor, signed with the UJS crest. This automatically-wound movement is adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, with 35 jewels.
THE SET
This Urban Jürgensen Reference 2 is accompanied by its outer box, inner wooden box and Certificate of Origin (signed with the watches individual case number "No. 0XX"). It also comes with a bespoke Anthracite strap in grey grained leather, along with the original white gold buckle from the manufacturer.
If sold within the United Kingdom, this Royal Oak 26120ST will be subject to 20% VAT. Viewings are currently suspended for the time being.
