Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Noga Hilton, Geneva, Jun 14, 2003

LOT 226

Jules Jürgensen, Copenhagen, made in Switzerland, No. 13206, circa 1880. Very fine and rare, solid 18K gold hunting-cased keyless double-train, independent split-seconds watch with diablotine.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 13,000 - 17,000 / USD 15,000 - 19,000

Sold: CHF 18,400

C. Four-body, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette, stop mechanism controlled by a push button at 5 o'clock, split mechanism by a push button at 12 o'clock. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions, outermost red seconds scale with five-seconds/minute Arabic figures, subsidiary sunk fifth-second jump diablotine. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. 45 mm. (20'''), nickel, 29 jewels, straight line calibrated lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance,Breguet balance spring, tandem winding, patented bow setting.Signed on dial, case and movement.Diam. 55 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 4

Fair
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 4 - 13 - 01

Notes

This appears to be the earliest Jules Jürgensen split-seconds watch known. 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. Three years later, in 1833 Jules returned to Le Locle and built up a great business. His family business was carried on by his brother and in 1886 was sold to one of the employees, H. Kiens,and was then carried on by his sons, Jules 1837-1894 and Jac ues Alfred 1842-1912 and later by the House of Heuer. Jürgensen had many titles and honors, became watchmaker to the King of Denmark, 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, Potter and others; he was a member of many commissions in Switzerland judging different horological contests. He was apparently considered in Switzerlan to be one of the best watchmakers. He stamped most of his watches on the pillar plate under the dial: Jules Jürgensen of Copenhagen.