Urban Jürgensen - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: FIVE Hong Kong Monday, November 27, 2017 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: Urban Jürgensen
    Year: Circa 1989
    Reference No: 2, limited edition no. 009
    Movement No: 09-50
    Case No: 4276
    Material: 18k pink gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. FP71, 35 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Blue crocodile strap
    Clasp/Buckle: 18kpink gold Urban Jurgensen buckle
    Dimensions: 38 mm. diam.
    Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
    Accessories: With Urban Jürgensen Extract from the Archives dated February 10, 2017 confirming production of the present watch with solid silver guilloché dial with Roman Numerals #009, round case and teardrop lugs in 1989.

  • Catalogue Essay

    An outstanding example of Urban Jürgensen's mastery of the craft, the present limited edition timepiece is a spectacularly elegant execution of one of the most classic high complications in watchmaking: the combination of a perpetual calendar with moon phases. A true work of ineffable craftsmanship, both the dial and the case designs are reminiscent of pieces from the first half of the past century. The teardrop lugs add a hint of nostalgic playfulness to the round case, defined otherwise by the rounded stepping of the bezel. The dial, however, is the undisputed protagonist of this wristwatch. Aesthetically, it can be considered a pinnacle of elegance: the satin outer track with Roman numerals and simple minute divisions frames the clean guilloché center. The indication for day, date, month and moon phases are symmetrically placed: the windows for day and month horizontally; the subdials for moon phases and date vertically. Subtle aesthetic details, at first glance easily missed, work behind the scenes to achieve the final effect: the windows do not feature simply sloped sides, but are furthermore recessed inside the dial. The subsidiary dials feature at their inside a different guilloché than the dial center. Such a remarkable dial is even more impressive when considered that it is actually a solid silver plate, instead of a silvered gold plate - much more ductile and easy to work with. The amount of craftsmanship involved in the multiple engine-turnings of this dial is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As a matter of fact, the master artisan is not allowed to pause during the execution of the engine turning, as even the subtlest difference in the environmental condition or in the constant pressure applied during the process can produce a slightly different result. This would lead to two different finishes for two different areas of the dial, which wold ultimately force the maker to discard the plate and start from the beginning.

Σ935

Ref. 2, limited edition no. 009
A very rare and fine pink gold limited edition automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch with moon phases

Circa 1989
38 mm. diam.
Case, dial and movement signed

Estimate
HK$120,000 - 160,000 
€13,100-17,400
$15,000-20,000

Sold for HK$150,000

Contact Specialist
Ziyong Ho
Specialist
+852 9386 2032
yong.ho@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: FIVE

Hong Kong Auction 28 November 2017