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拍品专文
An undoubted masterpiece, the present ‘Grand Complication’ watch is one of Jürgensen’s most complicated and sophisticated timepieces. To the best of our knowledge it is one of only two known Jürgensen watches with these particular complications, the other, no. 15131, was found as a movement only and rebuilt by Derek Pratt and Kari Voutilainen in 1982.
Consigned from one of the greatest watch collections in the world, the present watch has been carefully preserved and admired by its present owner for the past almost 20 years.
Jacques-Alfred Jürgensen was an exhibitor at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900. According to the Extract from the Jules Jürgensen Archives of the Watch Museum, Le Locle for this watch, it was awarded a Grand Prix. The company’s major success at the great Paris exhibition inspired them to thereafter inscribe their watches ‘Grand Prix 1900 Paris’.
The original Jürgensen work sheet for watch no. 15291 gives a fascinating insight into the making of this exceptional grand complication. It shows that work was begun on 8 June 1899 using an ébauche supplied by Victorin Piguet, who at the time also supplied ebauches for most of Patek Philippe’s most complicated watches. Described as ‘répétition à minute, chronographe rattrap., quantième perpétuel, phases de lune’, the names of all the workmen involved in its manufacture are listed against the work done and the cost. Some highly illustrious and famous names are among those involved, including: Robert Charrue (who would later become world-famous as the maker of the world’s smallest tourbillon); three members of the Pellaton family, Beyeler for the dial, David Golay, Fritz Montandon, Piguet and Arthur Grandjean. The total cost of making the watch was 1,732.55 Francs, the highest payment being to David Golay for the ‘repassage’ (the final and complete inspection of the watch with its movement and aesthetics, just before it leaves the manufacturer. Both the rate and appearance are inspected) for which he was paid 450 Francs. The heavy gold case listed as weighing 98 grams, cost 308.55 Francs.
The large and heavy case is fitted with the ingenious hand-setting system of Jürgensen’s own patent. To operate it, the bow is pushed forward towards the dial as far as possible, turning the crown will now set the hands. When the bow is returned to its normal position the winding function can be resumed.
The 9 complications
The present timepiece impresses with the following 9 complications, in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications:
1. Minute repeater
2. Perpetual Calendar
3. Four year cycle
4. Days of the month
5. Days of the week
6. Months
7. Moon phases
8. Chronograph
9. Split seconds function
The Jürgensen dynasty of watchmakers
Among the world's greatest watchmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries, members of the Jürgensen family, notably Urban and Jules, worked alongside other horological geniuses such as Houriet, Breguet and Arnold, and have greatly contributed to the development of watchmaking.
The family's roots stretch back to eighteenth century Denmark and Jurgen Jürgensen (1745-1811), founder of the dynasty. The most eminent watchmakers amongst his descendants are undisputedly his son Urban (1776-1830) and Urban's sons Louis Urban (1806-1867) and Jules-Frederik Jürgensen (1808-1877). The latter two continued their father's business by founding Urban Jürgensen & Sønner in Switzerland. Jules moved to Switzerland while his brother Louis was in charge of the factory in Copenhagen. After Louis Urban's and Jules-Frederik's deaths, the company went through several more changes of ownership but continued the tradition of this famous house, the production of highest quality timepieces.
In more recent times, it is thanks to people like the late Peter Baumberger (1938-2010) and Derek Pratt (1938-2009) who steered the company forward with a vision for the future with concepts for new calibers to give the Urban Jürgensen & Sønner brand a clear foundation for the 21st century. The firm continues this passion today.
Consigned from one of the greatest watch collections in the world, the present watch has been carefully preserved and admired by its present owner for the past almost 20 years.
Jacques-Alfred Jürgensen was an exhibitor at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900. According to the Extract from the Jules Jürgensen Archives of the Watch Museum, Le Locle for this watch, it was awarded a Grand Prix. The company’s major success at the great Paris exhibition inspired them to thereafter inscribe their watches ‘Grand Prix 1900 Paris’.
The original Jürgensen work sheet for watch no. 15291 gives a fascinating insight into the making of this exceptional grand complication. It shows that work was begun on 8 June 1899 using an ébauche supplied by Victorin Piguet, who at the time also supplied ebauches for most of Patek Philippe’s most complicated watches. Described as ‘répétition à minute, chronographe rattrap., quantième perpétuel, phases de lune’, the names of all the workmen involved in its manufacture are listed against the work done and the cost. Some highly illustrious and famous names are among those involved, including: Robert Charrue (who would later become world-famous as the maker of the world’s smallest tourbillon); three members of the Pellaton family, Beyeler for the dial, David Golay, Fritz Montandon, Piguet and Arthur Grandjean. The total cost of making the watch was 1,732.55 Francs, the highest payment being to David Golay for the ‘repassage’ (the final and complete inspection of the watch with its movement and aesthetics, just before it leaves the manufacturer. Both the rate and appearance are inspected) for which he was paid 450 Francs. The heavy gold case listed as weighing 98 grams, cost 308.55 Francs.
The large and heavy case is fitted with the ingenious hand-setting system of Jürgensen’s own patent. To operate it, the bow is pushed forward towards the dial as far as possible, turning the crown will now set the hands. When the bow is returned to its normal position the winding function can be resumed.
The 9 complications
The present timepiece impresses with the following 9 complications, in addition to the essential timekeeping functions such as hours, minutes and seconds which are not considered complications:
1. Minute repeater
2. Perpetual Calendar
3. Four year cycle
4. Days of the month
5. Days of the week
6. Months
7. Moon phases
8. Chronograph
9. Split seconds function
The Jürgensen dynasty of watchmakers
Among the world's greatest watchmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries, members of the Jürgensen family, notably Urban and Jules, worked alongside other horological geniuses such as Houriet, Breguet and Arnold, and have greatly contributed to the development of watchmaking.
The family's roots stretch back to eighteenth century Denmark and Jurgen Jürgensen (1745-1811), founder of the dynasty. The most eminent watchmakers amongst his descendants are undisputedly his son Urban (1776-1830) and Urban's sons Louis Urban (1806-1867) and Jules-Frederik Jürgensen (1808-1877). The latter two continued their father's business by founding Urban Jürgensen & Sønner in Switzerland. Jules moved to Switzerland while his brother Louis was in charge of the factory in Copenhagen. After Louis Urban's and Jules-Frederik's deaths, the company went through several more changes of ownership but continued the tradition of this famous house, the production of highest quality timepieces.
In more recent times, it is thanks to people like the late Peter Baumberger (1938-2010) and Derek Pratt (1938-2009) who steered the company forward with a vision for the future with concepts for new calibers to give the Urban Jürgensen & Sønner brand a clear foundation for the 21st century. The firm continues this passion today.