Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 15, 2016

LOT 87

URBAN JURGENSEN 'THE KING'S WATCH' QUARTER-REPEATING POCKET CHRONOMETER ROSE GOLD Urban Jurgensen, Copenhagen, No. 859 made in 1855. Highly important, exquisitely made and very rare 18K rose gold pocket Chronometer with a quarter-repeating, Earnshaw- type spring detent Chronometer escapment.

Four-body, massive, "bassine et filets", engine-turned, gold hinged cuvette engraved with Danish Coat of Arms and "Urban Jurgensens Sonner No 859'', with winding aperture, slide on the band at 1 o'clock for locking the repeating. Silver, radial champlevé Roman numerals on a brushed chapter ring, outer minute divisions, outermost Arabic 10-minute numerals in square reserves within an engine-turned border, matte engine- turned center, offset large subsidiary seconds ring at 6 o'clock, signed ''Urban Jurgensebs Sonner''. Blued steel Breguet 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. Earnshaw-type spring detent escapement, two-arm compensation balance with two wedged sliding weights, the rim with graduation for easy temperature adjustment, two timing screws Offset solid balance clock. Helical balance spring.