The wristwatches produced during the rebirth of Urban Jürgensen as a brand in the 1980s and 1990s epitomize the marriage of old and new in a way that breathed fresh life into contemporary watchmaking. New owner Peter Baumberger, with his partner, the much-heralded English watchmaker Derek Pratt, set out to rebuild the brand, still committed to the original tenets of technical excellence, traditional aesthetics, and handmade master craftsmanship.

The reference 1140WG captures the spirit and philosophy of the brand with a quiet elegance and restrain that has a modern appeal. The spirit of traditional watchmaking is seen in the iconic silhouette with tear drop lugs in a contemporary 40mm diameter case. The exceptional P4 caliber with two mainspring barrels and 72 hour power reserve shines through the sapphire crystal back. Typically found with hand guilloché dials, the present example is a very rare example, numbered 8/20 from circa 2021, with a rich and luxurious salmon dial highlighted by Breguet numerals.

An integral part of the history of 20th century independent watchmaking, Urban Jürgensen today is at the forefront of exceptional watchmaking - highly respected and appreciated by collectors around the world. The present reference 1140 with its striking salmon dial perfectly captures the ethos of Urban Jürgensen & Sønner, uniting traditional craftsmanship with refined modernity.

To the best of our knowledge, the series was initially intended to comprise 20 examples; however, only two were ultimately produced before the brand’s acquisition by the Rosenfield family, who appointed Kari Voutilainen as its new head in late 2021. This configuration was realized in just two pieces—the current watch, numbered 8, and its sibling, numbered 2, which Phillips had the privilege of offering in our Hong Kong Watch Auction: XXI. Presented in excellent overall condition and complete with its accessories, the present example stands as one of only two ever made in this exact specification.