This Urban Jürgensen Minute Repeater* is a rare find, one of only two in this form according to the original paperwork and movement engravings. The watch is powered by a Christophe Claret movement and is a minute repeater in the most classic sense.

Urban Jürgensen have a rich and varied history, dating back to the late 18th century. The manufacturer's namesake, Urban Jürgensen (1776-1830), along with his father Jürgen Jürgensen, have long been credited with introducing the watch industry to Denmark before later moving to Le Locle in Switzerland, laying the foundations for a Danish-Swiss connection that still exists over 240 years later. In 1985, the brand was acquired by Peter Baumberger, who, together with master English horologist Derek Pratt, set about carrying forward a legacy of elegant and complicated timepieces while pioneering concepts of performance, stability, and movement aesthetics.  
 
The paperwork which accompanies the watch indicates that only two examples of this particular Urban Jürgensen Minute Repeater were made, corresponding with engravings on the movement. The minute repeater function is operated through a classically-styled slider found on the left of the case. Additionally, the watch features the brand’s distinctive teardrop lugs and convex bezel. Forged separately from the case, the classic teardrop lugs are carefully heat-treated, hand-polished, and individually soldered into place using mid-century horological methods, with no visible soldering line. 
 
Overall, the dial of the watch has a balanced feel, with the seconds sub-dial and a stylised one bearing “Repetition Minutes” symmetrically arranged, while the minute repeater slider is similarly balanced across from the crown. Furthermore, the dial is beautifully finished with a guilloché pattern in the centre of the dial – the corresponding blued observatoire style hands with a gold loop further emphasise the traditional aesthetic of the piece. 
 
The movement that powers the watch was created by Christophe Claret. The history of this movement stretches back some time, as the calibre took inspiration from an older pocket watch repeater movement. At the time that this Urban Jürgensen piece was produced, Claret was one of a few manufacturers working on minute repeaters, with a particular focus on the complication - they offered significant customisation for clients and various versions of the repeater, so it is possible to find different examples from this era with the same Claret movement as its base. Within the Urban Jürgensen minute repeater, we see a simple style of repeater, striking the hours, quarters, and minutes on request.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Urban Jürgensen Minute Repeater will be subject to 20% VAT

Closer look

Condition

This Urban Jürgensen Minute Repeater is in excellent overall condition. The case and lugs show extremely light signs of wear consistent with minimal wear over time. The dial, hands, and movement are free from any signs of imperfections. The hallmarks on the buckle are crisp and well defined. 

Warranty

The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.