845
Urban Jürgensen
Ref. 11C
Prototype Detent Escapement
An extremely rare and cutting-edge stainless steel prototype wristwatch with guilloché dial, detent escapement, power reserve indication and certificate
Estimate
HK$450,000–900,000
€49,100–98,300
$57,700–115,000
Live 30 May, 12 PM Hong Kong SAR China Time
Manufacturer
Urban Jürgensen
Year
Circa 2011
Reference No
11C
Movement No
14
Model Name
Prototype Detent Escapement
Material
Stainless steel
Calibre
Manual, cal. P8, 25 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Leather
Clasp/Buckle
Stainless steel Urban Jürgensen pin buckle
Dimensions
41mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories
Accompanied by undated Urban Jürgensen certificate of origin, instruction manual, product literature, a copy of <em>The Jürgensen Dynasty: Four Centuries of Watchmaking in Two Countries </em>by John M.R. Knudsen.
Full-Cataloguing
Good to know:
- First in-house movement with the detent escapement system
- Hand-guilloché dial with two distinctive patterns
- Rare stainless steel prototype out of the 40 produced
- Once the collection of former Urban Jürgensen CEO Dr. Helmut Crott
The present-day watch manufacturer Urban Jürgensen, revived by the watchmakers Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt from its stale state in the 1980s, is the successor to the legacy of Denmark’s most celebrated watchmaker of the same name. Throughout the previous decades, the manufacturer under the leadership of Baumberger and insights of master watchmaker Pratt, along with a team of some of the best watchmakers in modern times, has been releasing quality and edge-cutting watches that are reminiscent of 19th century pocket watches.
For most of the manufacturer’s watches, they used to be mainly based on ébauche movements from other renowned Swiss movement manufacturers such as Frédéric Piguet. In the hope of having a truly in-house movement, after 8 years of research and development, the chronometer calibre P8 finally matured. The movement is the first to incorporate a chronometer escapement in a wristwatch, in which this 18th-century invention was primarily used in marine chronometers.
The detent escapement is a single impulse escapement, and can be regarded as one of the most accurate types of the systems. In said system, the balance wheel oscillates undisturbed during most of its cycle, which the escapement only comes in contact briefly and gives out one impulse to the balance every two oscillations, unlike conventional Swiss lever escapement, which is a dual impulse escapement that gives out impulse every oscillation. This minimizes the contact time and lowers the friction drastically, requiring little to no need for lubrication. Thus, it is not only a precise escapement system, it also benefits in a way that less hefty maintenance would be needed.
One of the challenges of adopting the detent escapement is that it was extremely sensitive to shocks. The watchmaker team at Urban Jürgensen was able to overcome the challenges and created the world’s first wristwatch movement with the detent escapement. Developed by master watchmaker Pratt and industry big names like Jean-Francois Mojon and Kari Voutilainen, the UJS calibre P8 was introduced to the public at Basel Fair 2011. The groundbreaking movement features two barrels providing a 3-day power reserve, optimized escape wheel teeth to reduce friction even more, and a limiting plate to limit any movement of the detent in case of a shock.
According to the archives of Urban Jürgensen, amongst the 40 prototypes produced 15 were cased in pink gold, 13 in platinum and 12 in stainless steel. The present watch is a rare stainless steel prototype paired with a silvered hand-guilloché dial, decorated in Grain d'Orge pattern at the main surface and Vannerie pattern at the subdial. Majority of the finished prototypes were used for testing and presentations and were not offered for sale. In fact, the present watch was auctioned at Phillips in 2020, and was a collection of watch expert and one-time CEO of Urban Jürgensen, Dr. Helmut Crott, who was crucial in bringing the detent escapement wristwatches to the market after Peter Baumberger’s untimely passing. It is a rare offer to possess such a magnificent timepiece carrying the fine tradition of Swiss watchmaking with Urban Jürgensen's strong Danish heritage.
- First in-house movement with the detent escapement system
- Hand-guilloché dial with two distinctive patterns
- Rare stainless steel prototype out of the 40 produced
- Once the collection of former Urban Jürgensen CEO Dr. Helmut Crott
The present-day watch manufacturer Urban Jürgensen, revived by the watchmakers Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt from its stale state in the 1980s, is the successor to the legacy of Denmark’s most celebrated watchmaker of the same name. Throughout the previous decades, the manufacturer under the leadership of Baumberger and insights of master watchmaker Pratt, along with a team of some of the best watchmakers in modern times, has been releasing quality and edge-cutting watches that are reminiscent of 19th century pocket watches.
For most of the manufacturer’s watches, they used to be mainly based on ébauche movements from other renowned Swiss movement manufacturers such as Frédéric Piguet. In the hope of having a truly in-house movement, after 8 years of research and development, the chronometer calibre P8 finally matured. The movement is the first to incorporate a chronometer escapement in a wristwatch, in which this 18th-century invention was primarily used in marine chronometers.
The detent escapement is a single impulse escapement, and can be regarded as one of the most accurate types of the systems. In said system, the balance wheel oscillates undisturbed during most of its cycle, which the escapement only comes in contact briefly and gives out one impulse to the balance every two oscillations, unlike conventional Swiss lever escapement, which is a dual impulse escapement that gives out impulse every oscillation. This minimizes the contact time and lowers the friction drastically, requiring little to no need for lubrication. Thus, it is not only a precise escapement system, it also benefits in a way that less hefty maintenance would be needed.
One of the challenges of adopting the detent escapement is that it was extremely sensitive to shocks. The watchmaker team at Urban Jürgensen was able to overcome the challenges and created the world’s first wristwatch movement with the detent escapement. Developed by master watchmaker Pratt and industry big names like Jean-Francois Mojon and Kari Voutilainen, the UJS calibre P8 was introduced to the public at Basel Fair 2011. The groundbreaking movement features two barrels providing a 3-day power reserve, optimized escape wheel teeth to reduce friction even more, and a limiting plate to limit any movement of the detent in case of a shock.
According to the archives of Urban Jürgensen, amongst the 40 prototypes produced 15 were cased in pink gold, 13 in platinum and 12 in stainless steel. The present watch is a rare stainless steel prototype paired with a silvered hand-guilloché dial, decorated in Grain d'Orge pattern at the main surface and Vannerie pattern at the subdial. Majority of the finished prototypes were used for testing and presentations and were not offered for sale. In fact, the present watch was auctioned at Phillips in 2020, and was a collection of watch expert and one-time CEO of Urban Jürgensen, Dr. Helmut Crott, who was crucial in bringing the detent escapement wristwatches to the market after Peter Baumberger’s untimely passing. It is a rare offer to possess such a magnificent timepiece carrying the fine tradition of Swiss watchmaking with Urban Jürgensen's strong Danish heritage.