Urban Jürgensen’s history began in 1773 when the brand was originally established by a Danish clockmaker, Jürgen Jürgensen. His eldest son Urban traveled throughout Europe studying with Breguet, Berthoud, Houriet, and Arnold before taking over the family business in 1811 upon his father’s passing. The company remained in the hands of the Jürgensen family until 1912, with Urban’s sons expanding the company to Le Locle, Switzerland in addition to the company headquarters in Copenhagen. The mid-twentieth century was a time of upheaval for the brand, which produced their first wristwatch in 1919 after the First World War and changed ownership numerous times.
The brand came back with a bang in the 1980s until the 1990s, following its acquisition by Peter Baumberger with his partner, the much-heralded English watchmaker Derek Pratt. The duo set out to rebuild the brand, committed to the original tenets of technical excellence, traditional aesthetics, and handmade master craftsmanship.

The first wristwatch model to be created under Baumberger’s “exceptional eye” was the present lot, the Reference 1, first produced in 1982, though the brand was not officially launched until 1985. Research shows that only 186 pieces were produced between 1982 and 1986, with a very small series of 15 pieces in platinum produced later in 2001. It notably features the automatic chronograph cal. 3019 PHC, based on the reliable Zenith El Primero, in this instance with triple date and moon phases. In fact, many of the dials throughout this period were engine-turned by Derek Pratt himself.

Aesthetically, the present Reference 1 in yellow gold can be considered a pinnacle of elegance with a round stepped case, iconic tear drop lugs and a dial with satin outer track with Roman numerals, beautifully hand guilloché with different patterns for the subdials and the central section. Notably, according to our research only 2 examples of the Reference 1 were fitted with dark blue date disc in French have appeared in the public market. The present one in Italian is the only example to surface the market highlighting its rarity. Kept in a private collection for more than 30 years stowed away safely, the present well-preserved example encapsulates the masterful reawakening of an eighteenth-century horological heritage for the modern era.