NEW available at my boutique ------> Rolex 6105 pink gold, black épargne dial

 Dear watch aficionado.

New available at my boutique www.watchcollector.lu is this superb Rolex 6105 pink gold with black épargne dial:

Rolex 6105

Pink Gold case

Black épargne dial

​These Rolex 6105 Datejust timepieces are rarely seen in the combination of a pink gold case with black dial, only a handful of examples are known to the market today. This example is from ca. 1952 and wears a 791xxx serial as you can see on the photo in the gallery. The case is in pretty nice shape with still a very present hallmark underneath the lug. The more, it retains as well the original "Rolex, Super + Oyster" crown. The dial is a correct rare black épargne dial with the early "swiss made" signature at 6 o'clock, which matches the serial number 791xxx.

​These black dials were highly complicated to produce. They used the famous épargne method for the minuterie and swiss made signature. After that, the dial was treated in a black galvanic bath and then protected by a so called "sapon", which was a translucent lacquer used for protection against oxidation. The signature "Rolex Oyster Perpetual" & "Officially Certified Chronometer" are made with the décalque doré method by using red gold powder onto the sapon. The sapon on the present example has been "eaten" by the radium lume over the last 70 years, which adds tremendous character.

This example comes in good, honest and original condition in a rarely seen combination and with a stunning presence on the wrist. The nice and charming patina tells the story of the last 70 years.

​This timepiece is certainly a connoisseur’s choice and a great addition to every high-class watch collection.​

I welcome and will respond to your request on my address: info@watchcollector.lu

ChB

 

Movement:

A296

18 jewels

Automatic wound

 

Case:

Pink Gold, 36mm

Original "Rolex, Super + Oyster" crown

Casemaker #12, Genex

 

Dial:

Black épargne dial

Radium lume

 

 

 

NEW available at my boutique -------> Urban Jürgensen 11CR Prototype

 Dear watch aficionado.

New available at my boutique www.watchcollector.lu is this superb Urban Jürgensen 11CR Prototype:

Urban Jürgensen ref. 11CR

PROTOTYPE N°012 Pivoted Detent Escapement

Chronometer COSC certified

​

In 2003, Urban Jürgensen owner and watchmaker Peter Baumberger together with the brand’s master watchmaker Derek Pratt started to develop for the first time in watch history a serial produced detent escapement for a wristwatch. Sadly master Pratt, close friend of George Daniels whom he helped with the Co-Axial escapement research, passed away never to see his 21st century innovation come into production.

 A few years into the research process, young engineer Jean-François Mojon, director at IWC who had just founded his own R&D Company, was mandated to develop Urban Jürgensen’s first in-house caliber. This future P8 caliber would have to integrate the new detent escapement.

 Soon another master watchmaker named Kari Voutilainen joined the team and took charge of the high grade finishing, casing and regulation of the new movements. As well the initial production of guilloche dials were remarkably hand-engine turned in Kari Voutilainen's atelier.

 The whole project matched perfectly the brands historical philosophy of best talent strategy as one must admit this impressive team of specialists certainly adds enormous desirability to these Prototypes. Peter Baumberger, a scrupulous designer and talented watchmaker himself, had an eye to discover and engage specific talents for his brand.

​The prototype of the new caliber P8 with its patented chronometer escapement and safety system was introduced in Basel fair 2011. The same year the Urban Jürgensen P8 caliber won first prize for best innovation at the reputable SIAR Mexico fair. Another important award was achieved in 2014 when the UJS Ref 11C SC Rose gold (Central Second version) received the first prize in the GPHG Men’s category.

​According to the UJS archives, of about 40 finished prototypes, 15 were cased in rose gold, 13 in platinum and 12 in steel.

They were not intended for official sale but fully assembled for testing purposes.

 Ref. 11 CR n°12 is a rare pink gold cased prototype dressed with a superb hand-guilloché silver dial.

 This timepiece is certainly a connoisseur’s choice and a great addition to every high-class watch collection.​

 I welcome and will respond to your request on my address: info@watchcollector.lu

ChB

​​

​

Caliber:

UJS P8 (Prototype signed N°012, circa 2011)

Pivoted Detent Escapement

Manual wind mechanism

Regulated in five positions, heat/cold/isochronism

D = 32 mm

H = 5.25 mm

Twin barrel “in series”

88 hours power reserve

21600vph (3Hz)

Large free sprung balance, diameter 12 mm, 24g/cm2

Patented differential mechanism for power reserve indication

Patented Pivoted detent escapement with safety system, US Pat. N° 7458717

Stop second (hack feature)

Optimized teeth shape to reduce friction

25 jewels

Highly finished rhodium plated with sunray decoration

  

Case:

18K Rose gold (5N)

Round tripartite case with soldered teardrop lugs and rounded case band profile

Screwed sapphire back

D = 42 mm

H = 12 mm

Water resistant: 30 meter

​

Dial:

Guilloché-main at the atelier of Kari Voutilainen

 

 

Soon available ----> the first Mercator Prototype

Dear watch aficionado.

Soon available at www.watchcollector.lu is this extraordinary, the very first, Vacheron & Constantin Mercator Prototype. The watch will come with several technical drawings and letters from Vacheron & Constantin.

Stay tuned.

Kind regards.

Christian

 

 

Pratt, Daniels & Le Roy

 Dear watch aficionado.

To end this year, I wanted to show you here some extraordinary timepieces from Derek Pratt, George Daniels and Le Roy.

I wish you all a great last day of the year and a good start into the new year.

Check out my website for the current offer of independent and vintage timepieces www.watchcollector.lu 

Kind regards.

Christian

George Daniels Grand Complication

George Daniels Space Traveller I

 

 

Urban Jürgensen, Derek Pratt oval Tourbillon

Le Roy Grande Complication, 11 complications

Patek Philippe 3979 & Patek Philippe 3974 at auction

Dear watch aficionado.

When talking about legendary vintage Patek Philippe timepieces, we always need to consider the extraordinary 1526, 1518 and 2499. But these two beauties, the 3979 (first automatic minute repeater) and the 3974 (most complicated watch at that time with automatic movement) are certainly a must have for every high-class collector too.

Not only that both watches were a novum for the firm back in 1989 but Patek Philippe had to ask the legendary casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann to create the cases for these two references (only a very limited number of cases were made by Hagmann). Now it chimes as well to everybody who is passionate about independent watchmaking. When I started my boutique in 2011 I started to work with Haldimann and Benzinger timepieces, the independents always skipped my heartbeat and therefor, these two Patek Philippe watches would be certainly on top of my wish list.

The more, it is interesting to note that probably only 10 cases for the 3979 were made by Hagmann and as well only a very limited number of cases for the 3974!

I do always consider these two references as the last real vintage and horological timepieces, before the industrial production took over.

Checking all the boxes (complication, novelties, still vintage, independent casemaker involved, rarity) I would recommend these timepieces at any time to my clients.

Here some photos as well two videos of the minute repeater by Phillips.

Direct link to Phillips for the 3979: https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/HK080220/922/

Direct link to Phillips for the 3974: https://www.phillips.com/detail/patek-philippe/HK080220/981/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benzinger, oil on canvas dial

 Dear watch aficionado.

Benzinger by Zanella. An original oil on canvas painting as dial. For sale at www.watchcollector.lu

Since 2011 I am proud partner of Haldimann and Benzinger timepieces.

Kind regards.

Christian