Founded in 1773 in Copenhagen, Urban Jürgensen is an icon of fine watchmaking, renowned for its precision and dedication to craftsmanship. With a legacy marked by collaborations with masters such as Breguet and a revitalization led by visionaries such as Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt , the brand has always demonstrated a unique understanding of the world of watchmaking. Since 2021, under the leadership of Kari Voutilainen, Urban Jürgensen promises to continue to be a unique reference of excellence.
Early Years and the Consolidation of Danish Watchmaking
The brand’s history can be traced back to Jørgen Jørgensen, who was born in 1745. At the beginning of his career in 1766, Jørgen travelled to Germany to train as a watchmaker, adapting his name to Jürgen Jürgensen. During this time, he worked with Houriet in Le Locle, Switzerland, where he learned innovative manufacturing methods and raised the bar for quality. When he returned to Copenhagen in 1773, he was given permission to manufacture watches, forming the partnership Larpent & Jürgensen, under which around 4,000 watches were produced between 1773 and 1814. He married Anne Leth Bruun and had several children, including Urban and Frederik, who would later follow in their father’s footsteps into watchmaking.
Urban Jürgensen, the eldest son, born in 1776, is widely considered the most famous Danish watchmaker of all time. Urban distinguished himself by his focus on scientific precision, which enabled him to compete in the production of high-quality marine chronometers. His training led him to work with master watchmakers such as Breguet , Berthoud and Arnold , which allowed him to introduce new technologies to Denmark, such as the hardened steel cylinder escapement. His literary work Principes Généraux de l'Exacte Mesure du Temps par les Horloges remains an important reference for watchmakers. In 1801, Urban returned to Switzerland, married Sophie Henriette Houriet and returned to Copenhagen with Swiss equipment to manufacture precision watches. Urban produced more than 700 watches, including 45 chronometers, 6 astronomical pendulum clocks and his famous bimetallic pocket thermometers.
Escape Détent Development
The détent escapement is a type of escapement which, unlike the commonly used lever escapement, features a construction in which the balance interacts directly with the escape wheel, allowing the chronometer to run with minimal interference. This apparent simplicity is, however, technically demanding, as it requires the escapement to stop the escape wheel with complete precision, reducing the energy dissipated in friction and promoting a constant amplitude of the balance.
Urban Jürgensen perfected this type of escapement, ensuring smoother and more stable operation, which was vital for marine chronometers. The accuracy of a chronometer, especially at sea, was crucial for calculating longitude, as any small variation in time could cause significant deviations in navigation. Jürgensen’s détent escapement improved the reliability of marine chronometers, withstanding the vibrations and temperature changes common on ships without losing accuracy.
Clock Structure Improvements
To ensure the durability and resistance of his chronometers, Jürgensen took great care in the choice of materials and the design of the watch structure. He introduced resistant metal alloys and high-quality materials that increased the longevity of the mechanisms. In addition, he used specific assembly techniques that protected the most sensitive parts of the movement from shocks and sudden changes in temperature, which are common on sea voyages.
These modifications involved improvements to the balance shafts, escape wheels and adjustment screws, in order to preserve the integrity and stability of the chronometers even in adverse conditions. With these precautions, Jürgensen produced chronometers that could be used with confidence on long voyages and in challenging maritime environments.
Advanced Complications
In addition to their precision, Jürgensen's chronometers were notable for the additional complications he was able to integrate, something rare for the time. The inclusion of date and moon phase indicators, for example, made the watch an even more complete and versatile tool. These complications required a high level of technical skill, as they involved the presence of gears and mechanisms that, when coupled to the main movement, could not affect its precision.
The moon phase indicator was particularly useful to sailors and scientists, as the lunar phases influenced the tides and had practical relevance in various maritime activities. Date systems, on the other hand, needed to be adjusted for the different number of days in each month, requiring precise calculations and manual adjustments, but ensuring the user a highly accurate functional experience.
Impact on the Advancement of Watchmaking
With these innovations, Urban Jürgensen not only raised the technical standards of chronometers of his time, but also inspired a new generation of watchmakers in the pursuit of mechanical and functional perfection. He demonstrated that watchmaking could go beyond measuring time and become an indispensable tool for science and navigation. His contributions to the détent escapement, structural improvements and advanced complications continue to be recognised and appreciated as part of the technical and artistic legacy of haute horlogerie.
Expansion and Transition of Generations
After Urban's death in 1830, his three sons—Louis Urban, Jules Frederik, and Frederik—took over the management of the company and changed the name to Urban Jürgensen & Sønner. Louis Urban, the eldest, focused on watchmaking and produced approximately 150 high-quality watches in Copenhagen, while Jules Frederik moved to Switzerland and began producing more elegant and complex watches, which quickly won over English and American customers.
The company remained in the family until 1912, when Jacques Alfred Jürgensen, Jules Frederik’s grandson, passed away, ending a 139-year continuous family management. During the 20th century, the brand underwent several changes of ownership, continuing production but without a clear strategic direction. In 1919, it began producing wristwatches and experienced a brief Art Deco period in the 1920s. However, after the Great Depression, a lack of strategic vision took its toll on the company.
Renaissance Under Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt
Things changed in 1979, when the brand underwent a renaissance under the leadership of Peter Baumberger, a dedicated watchmaker and collector who officially acquired the brand in 1985. Derek Pratt , an English watchmaker who mastered the art of hand guilloché , took over as technical director. Together, Baumberger and Pratt revitalized Urban Jürgensen with entirely handcrafted haute horlogerie pieces. In 1982, they launched the Ref. 1, an automatic watch with triple calendar, moon phase and chronograph, using a modified Zenith El Primero movement and produced in 186 pieces. In 1990, they introduced the Ref. 2, with a perpetual calendar and Frédéric Piguet movement, followed by the Ref. 3, with a power reserve indicator.
Baumberger and Pratt brought to the brand almost forgotten watchmaking techniques, such as the creation of garnet dials. This extremely laborious production process involves engraving a solid silver disc with numbers and markings that are filled with lacquer and then polished and treated with a mixture of silver and salts, creating a unique matte finish.
Derek Pratt's Contributions to Urban Jürgensen
One of Derek Pratt ’s greatest contributions was the development of hand-guilloche dials, one of the defining elements of Urban Jürgensen’s aesthetic during the Baumberger years. Pratt was one of the few watchmakers with the skill and patience required to execute hand-guilloche on each dial, using a technique that requires precision and an almost meditative approach. This work, along with the hand-crafted hands and highly detailed finishes, became hallmarks of Urban Jürgensen models such as the Reference 1, launched in 1982.
In addition, Pratt designed and manufactured extremely complex movements, often producing each component, even the screws themselves, by hand. One of the most notable examples of this work was the creation of the Oval Tourbillon , also known as "The Oval", a pocket watch that represents the pinnacle of artisanal watchmaking.
Main Technical Features:
Tourbillon with Integrated Remontoire : One of the most notable innovations of this watch is the incorporation of a constant-force remontoire directly into the tourbillon cage. This mechanism ensures an even distribution of energy to the escapement, significantly improving the precision of the watch. Pratt stated that this was the first watch to feature such a configuration, representing a first in watchmaking.
Spring-tooth Escapement: The watch uses a détent escapement, known for its high accuracy and usually found in marine chronometers. This type of escapement allows the balance wheel to oscillate freely for most of its cycle, receiving impulses only once per rotation, in order to reduce friction and the need for lubrication.
Additional Indicators: In addition to the central hours and minutes, the dial features a seconds subdial at 6 o’clock, a power reserve indicator between 7 and 8 o’clock, a thermometer between 4 and 5 o’clock and a moon phase indication at 12 o’clock. This symmetrical and functional arrangement reflects Pratt’s attention to detail and legibility.
Oval Movement: The movement has been designed to fit perfectly into the oval case, with a linear arrangement that positions the mainspring barrel at one focus of the ellipse and the tourbillon cage at the other. This configuration not only optimizes the use of space, but also contributes to the aesthetic harmony of the watch.
Handcrafted Finishing: Each component of the watch has been meticulously handcrafted using traditional techniques. The solid silver dial features finely executed guilloché , while the movement displays a variety of finishes, including black polishing and anglage , demonstrating Pratt’s exceptional watchmaking skills and meticulous craftsmanship.
The Commitment to Watchmaking and the Ref. 2
Derek Pratt , in partnership with Baumberger, was also responsible for one of Urban Jürgensen’s most iconic pieces, the Reference 2. This model not only replaced the chronograph function of the Ref. 1 with a perpetual calendar, but also raised the aesthetic bar with a double-layer guilloché dial and observatoire -shaped hands – a design that would become emblematic of the brand. With a Frédéric Piguet-based movement and a perpetual calendar module developed by Lemania, the Ref. 2 exemplifies the combination of tradition and technical sophistication that Pratt and Baumberger brought to Urban Jürgensen.
The series of complications that Pratt helped develop continued to evolve with the launch of the Ref. 3, which added a power reserve indicator, addressing what many considered a shortcoming of the Ref. 2. This development, although seemingly simple, required years of research and was one of the most expensive projects that Urban Jürgensen had undertaken to date. Pratt’s dedication to preserving the aesthetics and symmetry of the dials while introducing new features reveals his commitment to excellence and his deep respect for watchmaking tradition.
The P8 Project and the Escape from Détente
Urban Jürgensen 11C SC with P8 movement
One of Derek Pratt ’s final and most ambitious contributions to Urban Jürgensen was the development of the P8 project, which included a pivoted détent chronometric escapement – an innovation that was considered impossible to adapt to wristwatches due to its extreme sensitivity to shocks. Pratt, together with Jean-François Mojon and later Kari Voutilainen, set about adapting this precision escapement, originally used in marine chronometers, to a modern wristwatch movement. The escapement was robust enough to pass the Chronofiable test, an extraordinary technical achievement.
The détent escapement, renowned for its precision, was implemented in a prototype of the P8, a move designed to establish Urban Jürgensen as a brand committed to precision and innovation in the tradition of fine watchmaking. This project, which Pratt helped initiate before his retirement for health reasons, turned out to be a milestone for the brand and solidified its place among the most prestigious artisanal watchmakers.
The Legacy of Derek Pratt
Derek Pratt passed away in 2009, a few months before his friend and collaborator Peter Baumberger. His influence on Urban Jürgensen and watchmaking as a whole is indelible. Pratt brought to the brand not only an unparalleled level of craftsmanship, but also a deep respect for watchmaking heritage, combined with a relentless pursuit of innovation. Under his guidance, Urban Jürgensen produced some of the most exquisite timepieces of the 20th century, establishing itself as a symbol of excellence and dedication to the art of hand-wound watchmaking.
Today, Pratt’s legacy is carried on by Kari Voutilainen, who has taken over the leadership of the brand with a commitment to honoring the work that Pratt and Baumberger developed. The techniques and innovations that Derek Pratt brought to Urban Jürgensen continue to be a benchmark for quality and tradition, and the models he helped create are today highly sought-after collector’s pieces, representing the very best in high-end watchmaking.
Peter Baumberger: The Visionary of Urban Jürgensen's Renaissance
Peter Baumberger, a passionate Swiss watchmaker and collector, was the key figure in bringing Urban Jürgensen back to its glory days. Born in 1939, Baumberger graduated from the Swiss School of Watchmaking in Solothurn in the 1950s, a challenging time for traditional watchmaking, which was facing a revolution driven by quartz. Despite the difficulties that watchmakers faced at that time, Baumberger was always an advocate of artisanal watchmaking, believing in the value of manual techniques and the meticulous detail that only master craftsmen could achieve.
Baumberger entered the world of watchmaking in an unexpected way. While regularly traveling to cities with antique districts, he began collecting historical clocks and horological artefacts. In 1976, during a visit to Copenhagen to celebrate the bicentenary of the Danish Watchmakers’ Guild, Baumberger came across a small exhibition of historical clocks and documents in the workshop of Christian Gundesen, the then owner of Urban Jürgensen. Among the exhibits, Baumberger recognized a precision pendulum clock signed by Urban Jürgensen, the brand’s founder, and realized that he had a unique opportunity before him.
When he expressed an interest in purchasing some of the pieces from the exhibition, Baumberger was told that they were not for sale, but the salesman’s casual comment sparked an unexpected idea: “If you really want everything, why not buy the brand?” This was a turning point, and Baumberger realized that he was not just looking at an opportunity to acquire rare watches, but also to acquire a historic brand with a legacy deeply rooted in Danish and Swiss watchmaking tradition.
Brand Adherence and the Persuasion of Danish Heirs
Baumberger faced a challenge: Urban Jürgensen was a Danish brand with a name that the heirs were reluctant to sell to anyone outside the country. Baumberger’s commitment and knowledge of watchmaking, however, were key to convincing them. In doing so, he enlisted the support of a renowned watchmaker friend at the time, Derek Pratt, who had presented a handcrafted movement that he had worked on for five years, exemplifying the quality and dedication that Baumberger wanted to restore to the brand. When they realized that Baumberger wanted to honor the legacy of Urban Jürgensen with a high-quality, artisanal approach, the Danish heirs finally relented, allowing him to acquire the brand in 1979.
Baumberger's Vision for Urban Jürgensen
For Baumberger, Urban Jürgensen was to return to its roots of excellent craftsmanship. Contrary to the growing trend of machine-assisted mass production, he dreamed of a brand that created watches by hand, with exquisite details and high-precision complications. He restored the tradition of displaying classic refinement, using ancient methods and meticulous craftsmanship.
In partnership with Derek Pratt, Baumberger created a series of impressive timepieces, such as the Ref. 1, launched in 1982, a watch with a triple calendar, moon phase and chronograph. The pieces created under his leadership featured elements such as hand-made guilloché dials, welded cases and hand-crafted hands – distinctive elements that defined the Urban Jürgensen identity. In 1990, Baumberger and Pratt launched the Ref. 2, which marked a high point with the introduction of a perpetual calendar.
The Legacy of Peter Baumberger
Peter Baumberger passed away in 2010, months after Derek Pratt’s passing, but he left an invaluable legacy to Urban Jürgensen. His vision, combined with Derek Pratt’s craftsmanship, resurrected the brand, restoring to it the prestige and exclusivity that define the best of Swiss watchmaking. Under Baumberger’s leadership, Urban Jürgensen became synonymous with tradition, precision and dedication to the art of watchmaking, maintaining respect for history while advancing the understated innovations and artisanal techniques that today are a model of excellence in the watchmaking world.
New CEO: Kari Voutilainen
Kari Pekka Voutilainen, born in June 1962 in Rovaniemi, Finland, is widely recognized as one of the most talented contemporary watchmakers. His journey in watchmaking is marked by an unwavering dedication to art and precision, characteristics that define his work and position him as a leading figure in the world of fine watchmaking.
Training and Career Beginnings
Voutilainen’s passion for watchmaking was evident at an early age. Between 1983 and 1986, he attended the Tapiola School of Watchmaking in Finland, where he acquired the essential technical foundations. In 1989, he decided to further his knowledge in Switzerland by enrolling at the prestigious WOSTEP (Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program) school, where he specialized in complicated watches.
After completing his studies, Voutilainen joined Parmigiani Mesure et Art du Temps, where he dedicated himself to the restoration of rare and complex watches between 1990 and 1999. This experience gave him a deep understanding of traditional mechanisms and high-precision watchmaking techniques. He then took on the role of instructor at WOSTEP between 1999 and 2002, contributing to the training of a new generation of watchmakers and introducing new courses to the curriculum.
Voutilainen Brand Foundation
In 2002, driven by the desire to create unique pieces that reflected his artistic and technical vision, Voutilainen established his own brand in the village of Môtiers, Switzerland. The tranquility of the Val-de-Travers region provided the ideal environment for the creation of timepieces that combine tradition and innovation.
The brand’s philosophy is based on limited, handcrafted production, with each watch being meticulously crafted to ensure the highest quality. Voutilainen is involved in every step of the process, from design to final assembly, ensuring that each piece is a true work of art.
Innovations and Contributions to Watchmaking
One of Voutilainen’s most notable contributions to watchmaking was the introduction in 2005 of the world’s first decimal repeater, capable of striking the hour at ten-minute intervals. This innovation was notable for its complexity and the clarity of the sound it produced.
In 2011, the Vingt-8 movement was introduced, developed entirely in-house. This movement is distinguished by the use of two escape wheels, providing superior energy efficiency and improved precision. In addition, the Vingt-8 is renowned for its robustness and ease of maintenance, features valued by collectors and professionals alike.
Collaborations and Expansion
Throughout his career, Voutilainen has collaborated with numerous artists and brands, enriching his portfolio and expanding the horizons of watchmaking. In 2012, together with Andreas Strehler, he created the “Chapter III” for Maîtres du Temps, a piece that combines technical complexity with refined aesthetics.
In 2014, it acquired the Comblémine SA dial factory, allowing it to fully control the production of its watch dials and ensure an unprecedented level of customization and quality.
In 2021, he led a group of investors in the acquisition of the historic Urban Jürgensen brand, taking on the role of CEO. This acquisition reflects Voutilainen’s commitment to preserving and revitalizing heritage brands, integrating them into his contemporary vision of watchmaking.
Recognition and Awards
Voutilainen's work has been widely recognised by the watchmaking industry. Over the years, he has received multiple awards at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), including the "Best Men's Watch" award in 2007 and 2013. In 2014, he was awarded the Prix Gaïa, considered the "Nobel Prize" of watchmaking, in the "Craftsmanship-Creation" category.
Legacy and Impact
Kari Voutilainen is an example of how dedication, passion and the relentless pursuit of perfection can result in creations that transcend time. His artisanal approach, combined with technical innovations, positions him as a central figure in contemporary watchmaking. His watches are not only instruments for measuring time, but also testaments to human artistry and engineering, destined to be cherished by future generations.
The new team
Kari Voutilainen , co-CEO: as we saw above, a renowned Finnish watchmaker with ten awards at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), Voutilainen returns to Urban Jürgensen, where he began his career in the 1990s, bringing vast experience and a renewed vision to the brand.
Alex Rosenfield , co-CEO: With a background in fashion, media and marketing, Rosenfield is focused on strengthening Urban Jürgensen’s presence in the market, connecting fine watchmaking with contemporary culture and expanding the brand’s reach.
Venla Voutilainen , Head of After-Sales Service: Daughter of Kari Voutilainen and a talented watchmaker herself, Venla leads the after-sales service, ensuring that every Urban Jürgensen watch, from 1773 to the present day, is maintained with the highest standard of care and excellence.
This team combines tradition and innovation, committed to honoring the Urban Jürgensen legacy while charting new paths in fine watchmaking.
With Kari Voutilainen at the helm of Urban Jürgensen, the brand is in a unique position to once again stand out in the world of fine watchmaking. Her commitment to precision, craftsmanship and the maintenance of traditional techniques infuses Urban Jürgensen with a new vigour, respecting the legacy of masters such as Jørgen Jørgensen, Urban Jürgensen and the visionaries Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt.
Will the return of Urban Jürgensen, now under Voutilainen’s contemporary and artistic vision, bring innovations that live up to the brand’s original ideals? Or will we see a new era where tradition and innovation coexist in harmony, reflecting the centuries-old history of watchmaking? Urban Jürgensen is ready to embrace the future, but its essence will certainly remain rooted in the foundations left by its masters.
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