Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, Nov 12, 2006

LOT 194

?Minute-Repeating, Split Seconds? Jules Jurgensen, Copenhagen, No. 15402. Made circa 1910. Very fine and very rare, minute repeating, 18K gold hunting-cased keyless pocket watch with split seconds chronograph, instantaneous 60-minute register and Jurgensen?s patented bow hand-setting mechanism. To be sold without reserve

CHF 20,000 - 30,000

EUR 13,000 - 20,000 / USD 16,000 - 24,000

Sold: CHF 20,060

C. Four-body, ?bassine et filets?, polished, the back and front covers engraved with monograms. Hinged gold cuvette, the interior with engraved dedication. Glazed gold-rimmed cover to view the movement. D. White enamel with Breguet numerals, outer minute track and concentric red painted fifth of a second indexes, outer Arabic five minute/second numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6, 60-minute register at 12. Gold ?spade? hands. M. 18???, rhodium-plated, 32 jewels, counterpoised straight-line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance-spring, index regulator, repeating on two gongs activated by a slide in the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 53 mm. Property of a German Collector


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-53-01

Good

Reprinted

HANDS Original

Notes

Jules Frédéric Jürgensen (1808-1877) The son of Urban Jürgensen, and a very eminent watchmaker himself, Jules was born in Le Locle but as a child moved with his parents to Denmark. In 1830, after the death of his father, the company was taken over by Jules and his brother Louis Urban. In 1833, Jules returned to Le Locle and built up a great business. After his death, the family business was continued by his brother and in 1886 it was sold to an employee, H. Kiens, whose sons, Jules 1837-1894 and Jacques Alfred 1842-1912, continued the business, as did the House of Heuer subsequently. Jürgensen became watchmaker to the King of Denmark, and was made a Knight of the Légion d?Honneur and Knight of the Royal Order of Dannebrog. Between 1870 and 1876 he was a member of the commission of surveillance of the Geneva School of Horology, along with Ekegren and Potter and others; he was a member of many commissions in Switzerland judging horological contests. He stamped most of his watches on the pillar plate under the dial: Jules Jürgensen of Copenhagen.