Mittwoch, 4. Juni 2025

Urban Jürgensen reference 3 yellow gold N°015-----> "Reference 3 Model" in the official UJS catalogue

 

 Dear watch aficionado.

 The "reference 3 model" used by Peter Baumberger and Derek Pratt for the official Urban Jürgensen catalogue is this N°015 in yellow gold, which adds that little extra to this example and sets it apart from other reference 3 examples. The more, this example was never worn, comes with its box, outer packaging, original certificate, booklet, original catalogue and original price list from 2003.

 

 

 

In the 1990s, when the reference 3 was presented, Urban Jürgensen was guided by Peter Baumberger and together with Derek Pratt they developed their collections. Derek Pratt was as well the one who developed the up/down mechanism on the reference 3, which took almost 2 years of research, different technical drawings and three dozens of additional parts to finally fit into the ultra thin (2.4mm) Frédérique Piguet base movement. The more, the whole modification for the perpetual calendar indication was as well developed and produced in-house at the atelier of Urban Jürgensen!

To finish the guilloché dial, it takes more than 700 operations and 2 days of work. The moon display requires over 20 operations to produce the blued steel background with inserted gold moon discs and stars that are punched in one by one. The effort required to produce the elegantly curved springs and levers of the perpetual calendar mechanism is partially unlimited. Each steel surface is carefully grained and the edges angled and polished to perfection. The tear drop lugs are individually forged and then soldered by hand to the case. 

The level of finissage on the Urban Jürgensen reference 3 timepieces is at the very highest standards of watchmaking.

 

Caliber:

Base Automatic caliber FP71, 18 000 vph

​In-house modified by Derek Pratt

Perpetual calendar mechanism

Power reserve indication mechanism developed by Derek Pratt

Guilloché-main 21kt gold rotor

40 jewels, 2.4mm high

Case:

18kt rose gold

38mm diameter

Each single lug forged and welded to the case

Solid caseback

Dial:

Guilloché-main by Derek Pratt N°015

 

Highlights:

 "Reference 3 Model" in the official Urban Jürgensen catalogue

NOS, never been worn, full set

 

 

 

Kind regards.
ChB

 

Samstag, 31. Mai 2025

Art déco era pocket watch, 1920's, sapphire set, platinum, guillotine ----> soon

 Dear watch aficionado.

Soon I will have this beautiful art-déco era pocket watch available from the 1920's, platinum case, sapphire set, guillotine and the original white gold chain. Unique piece? Stay tuned.

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
ChB
www.watchcollector.lu

  


 

Freitag, 16. Mai 2025

Geneva auctions May 2025 -----> Rolex JPS, FPJ 041/00R, Newman Lemon dial, 8171R full set, Rolex 6234 14kt, Patek 425 Breguet

 Dear watch aficionado.

The last weekend were again, same procedure as every year, the Geneva May auctions. The previews went very well and I could see a lot of beautiful watches, but as always, as well a lot of watches with problems. I will show you herewith my personal highlights of the watches that I saw and with which I am quite confident that they have no problems and are good and honest timepieces. 

I will start with the three greatest bargains of the weekend:

 The first one is the Rolex 6264 14kt yellow gold Newman JPS dial. The watch itself was in really great condition, had a matching bracelet, flawless dial, great case. The more it came with the original payement receipt, box, guarantee and a letter from the second owner, who bought it in 1975, confirming the history of this watch. This timepiece was sold at Christie's for 1'008'000CHF! I do know the buyer of this watch, who is a really great collector and I am really happy for him that he got this piece at this price!

  The second one is the Rolex 8171 pink gold full set. The watch itself was as well in great condition, case probably never polished and the dial was a real vintage beauty, nice patina, correct satiné vertical for the center and grainé finish for the outer date ring. Strong crown and serial on the caseback. But the more, it came with all original paperwork that one could dream of! I have never seen such a well preserved Padellone combined with a true full set yet. Phillips sold it for 508'000CHF!

 The third one was the extraordinary and unique Cartier mystery clock from 1924. To see such a breathtaking timepiece in real is something really special. This piece sold for 3'932'000CHF, which is a real bargain! And if you don't believe  me, maybe you believe the words of the grand maître horloger Francois Paul Journe, who said, when the hammer went down "it is very cheap". Mr. Journe did bid as well on this piece, but the day before he bought already "his" Breguet Sympathique N°1 for 5'505'000CHF, so maybe he was happy with that buy and didn't want to fight with the knive between the tooth for this Cartier clock ;)

  



 

 


 

 


 


 

 Herewith I do show you as well the other watches that I really liked and was happy to see in the metal during the previews:

Rolex 6264 yellow gold 18kt PN Lemon dial, Phillips 825'500CHF

 
Rolex 6238 yellow gold 14kt, Phillips 241'300CHF


FPJ N°041/00R, Christie's 831'600


Longines 23086, Antiquorum 32'500CHF

Patek Philippe 425 Breguet numerals, Antiquorum 16'250CHF

Omega Seamaster yellow gold cloisonné émail cadran Stern, Christie's 189'000CHF

Rolex 6304 black dial, Christie's 81'900CHF

Patek Philippe 2499 pink gold 2nd series Gobbi Milano, will be sold at Sotheby's in New York



 

 

¦¦passion for watchmaking¦¦
¦¦www.watchcollector.lu - vintage and independent timepieces, since 2011 proud partner of Andersen, Benzinger and Haldimann watches¦¦

Kind regards.
Christian
www.watchcollector.lu