Exceptional Collectors Timepieces, Ho...

Geneva, May 15, 2005

LOT 119

"Secondes Foudroyantes" Jules Jürgensen, Copenhagen, made in Switzerland, No. 13964. Made for Freeman & Crankshaw, for the North American market, circa 1870. Very fine and important 18K gold, heavy, hunting-cased pocket watch with minute repeating, double-train, independent split seconds, chronograph with 1/5 second diablotine and Jürgensen's patent bow setting.

CHF 45,000 - 65,000

EUR 30,000 - 40,000 / USD 38,000 - 55,000

Sold: CHF 55,200

C. Five-body, "bassine et filets", engine turned and polished.Hinged gold cuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numer-als,outer minute track, outermost seconds divided into fifths,subsidiary fifth-second jump diablotine. Blued-steel "Breguet"hands. M. 40 mm (18'''), nickel, 42 jewels, straight line counter-poisedlever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, Breguetbalance-spring, tandem winding, repeating with two hammers on two gongs activated by a slide in the band,chronograph split-seconds function locked when cover is closed.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 50 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

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.