Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 15, 2016

LOT 85

URBAN JURGENSEN 'THE KING'S WATCH' POCKET CHRONOMETER Urban Jurgensen, Copenhagen, No. 32 made in 1820. Important and rare gold pocket Chronometer with a lever escapement.

CHF 30,000 - 50,000

HKD 240,000 - 400,000 / USD 31,000 - 52,000

Four-body, massive, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, gilt brass hinged cuvette engraved with a Royal crown and Urban Jurgensen fecit No 32. With winding aperture. White enamel, signed "Urban Jurgensen" with radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions and Arabic five-minute numerals, large subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock. Blue steel spade hands. 51 mm. made from a Houriet garde-temps,frosted gilt, three-quarter plate, with cylindrical pillars secured by screws, the back plate recessed for the barrel secured by a bridge, the fusee with chain and Harrison's maintaining power, gold train, winding square surrounded by a dust pipe fixed on the top plate. Swiss type lever escapement with enclosed pallets and divided lift, steel escape wheel, steel anchor, two-armed compensated balance, flat steel balance spring with terminal curve and double roller.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-8-01

Good

Slightly scratched

HANDS Original

Notes

Dial, case and movement signed. DIAM. 61 mm. This watch is illustrated in The Jurgensen Dynasty by John Knudsen, p. 104 and 105. According to litterature, the watch belonged to the young CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK CARL CHRISTIAN, the later KING FREDERIK VII, whose crown is monogram is engraved on the dust cover. According to tradition, the watch came to the family as a present from the young Crown Prince, who was a member of the same riflemen's association as an ancestor of the family. On some special occasion, the latter obtained such a good result in shooting that the Crown Prince enthousiastically pulled his watch out of his pocket and presented it to the lucky man in recognition of his skill.