indignantdenial
978
I've said elsewhere, but...
The lugs are too stubby and don't gel with the rest of the design. The watches except for the time-only are way too thick and ridiculous. The overall design is OK but nothing very special. The movement finish is good and the dials nive, but the price these command is just nuts. I'd wait for the secondary market/used. The guillochage on the caseback is pretty to look at but will accumulate a lot of wrist cheese. This is a pretty poor release, in my opinion—despite the well-done Derek Pratt homage. I'm not saying the brand ought to have continued in the footsteps of Baumberger and Pratt, but this new look does a disservice to them—and that's not a knee-jerk reaction to something being new. Instead, my argument is that this new aesthetic isn't right for these pieces—it just seems rushed instead of considered. For further evidence of this, look at the crowns: they're very basically shaped and are these big, lumbering things. I know manual winds need crowns that aid their winding, but this doesn't look very thought out. It's a shame because I loved UJ's reincarnation with Pratt and Baumberger and then under Petersen and Mojon, until about 2021, I suppose.
Anyway, hopefully they improve their future outputs. In all seriousness, I'll be looking back to the Big 8, Ref. 8, 1140L, and 2240 Jules pieces as the ones to own.
The new Urban Jürgensen collection
Here's a photographic overview of the 9 new models of the revived Urban Jürgensen brand. If you want to compare these new models with some of the previous ones: Overview of some Urban Jürgensen . Best, Emmanuel A/ The UJ-1 Tourbillon - The 250th Anniversa...
Thanks for sharing!
Very nice dials and movements. Don’t find the short stubby lugs appealing. They also seem to sit akwardly high, making the cases look like hockey pucks (somewhat Dato-esque if that’s a word). Mmm, not convinced by the overall package.
Thickness bothers me too,
but I find the unusual lugs very interesting. And the tribute-to-the-Oval-Tourbillon is a pure masterpiece: if I could afford it I think I would buy the rose gold UJ-1 without the slightest hesitation despite the thickness. Best, Emmanuel
Honestly, they are all way to thick
I just don’t get it, UJ always have been quite elegant. Not these monstrosities…. And as said before, on top of that, prices do not make sense for “normal “ people. Just my 2 cents, Dirk
I understand your point of view, Dirk.
But, for me, the Tourbillon in tribute to Derek Pratt’s Oval pocket watch is a masterpiece and, could I afford it, I would buy the UJ-1 in rose gold. Yes, it’s 12.2 mm thick, but it’s what enables to have such incredible depth in the movement and this won...
I really like them , need to see them in person first to make a judgement ofcourse.
The thing i dislike is their prices 🫣
Yes, these watches are unaffordable for most of us,
unfortunately, especially the one which is the most important imo, the UJ-1… Best, Emmanuel
Yes when I first saw the release I was like whoa these have moved up
Now I know more than just simple movements , but still. Seem a little thick. Plus the hour ring seems off. Nice movement architecture and finishing however !
The UJ-3 is definitely too thick.
And I'm not fond of the UJ-2 either. But the true masterpiece here, imo, it the UJ-1. For anyone knowing and loving Derek Pratt's Oval pocket watch, this is a masterpiece tribute. And 12.2 mm is a thickness I would personally accept, as it's the condition...
I personally also like the dial of the UJ-1 very much.
It's the true masterpiece here for me. This tribute Derek Pratt's Oval pocket watch is simply stunning. And 12.2 mm is a thickness I would personally accept, as it's the condition to have such an incredible Tourbillon with flying barrel and the iconic cen...
I completely agree with you regarding price.
Less regarding size, except for the UJ-3, which is too thick. But the true masterpiece here, imo, it the UJ-1. For anyone knowing and loving Derek Pratt's Oval pocket watch, this is the best tribute one can dream of. 12.2 mm might seem thick, of course, b...
I understand why you like it, Larry!
But my personal favorite here has to be the UJ-1. The movement (flying barrel, central bridge, tourbillon) is an absolutely wonderful tribute to Derek Pratt's Oval watch, imo. If money was no object, I would buy the rose gold UJ-1 instantly! The UJ-2 and ...
The whole collection is as awe-inspiring as it is emotionless.
kari is trying to differentiate from its own brand, the watches are great but though they're great execution, I don't see anything new, just new lugs
It's very interesting for me te read how you feel about these new pieces.
I feel differently, though, because the UJ-1 is a big deal for me, a real masterpiece, vibrant homage to the Oval and a major release. And I like these new short lugs: I'm almost certain they look great in real life. Just my personal thoughts, fo course. ...
I've said elsewhere, but...
The lugs are too stubby and don't gel with the rest of the design. The watches except for the time-only are way too thick and ridiculous. The overall design is OK but nothing very special. The movement finish is good and the dials nive, but the price thes...
Thank you for sharing your thoughts in such a detailed way.
I find it very interesting, but feel totally differently about them. I like these new short lugs and am almost sure they look and feel great on the wrist. I find the UJ-3 too thick, but not the UJ-1, which is a major release for me. It's impossible to get...
Missing the incomparable UJ Breguet numerals
No one does Breguet numerals like UJ does. Why have they dropped this design element? Likewise, the characteristic hands are now replaced by hands that look as if they have been taken straight from the Breguet workshop. The new design language overall bri...
Thank you for sharing you critical view on these pieces.
I have a different feeling about them. Roman numerals were also very often featured in previous UJ releases and I think the UJ-1 is a major release, a wonderful homage to the Derek Pratt Oval and an incredible watch in itself. I'm less excited about the U...
Love the hands, dial and movement of the UJ-1's
The hands seem more delicate than what I associate with UJ I will have to look again But as others are saying, do the have to be that thick?
I definitely agree that the UJ-3 is too thick and unnecessarily so.
But the UJ-2 is ok given the depth of the movement (I'm not excited about it though, because I'm not fond of the dial design). As for the UJ-1, it's a major release, imo, and given the incredible movement with flying barrel, central bridge and tourbillon ...
Lovely pieces, all 👌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻
And quite a coherent restart for the brand. I know Kari is no fan of thinness and while size wise the watches are not too thick in some pictures they look like sitting quite high on the wrist. One would need to try them live for sure 👍🏻 Thanks for sharing...
I'm sure photos make things looking worse than they are (except for the UJ-3, which really seems unnecessarily thick).
And the UJ-1 is a major release, imo. This homage to Derek Pratt's Oval pocket watch is a pure dream as well as an incredible achievement. Totally unaffordable, unfortunately, but, could I afford it, I would buy the rose gold UJ-1 instantly. Best, Emmanue...
What a re-launch by UG!
With 3 new models no less…the only aspect I think could be worked on is the lug design….
I'm glad you like some of this re-launch too.
We seem to be few to think that there's more to love than to deplore. I personally like these new short lugs: very original and I'm sure that they look great on the wrist. And the UJ-1 is a major release imo. I'm less fond of the UJ-2 (the dial design doe...
I thought proper teardrop lugs would go well…
The RG versions are all attractive which match with the movement color scheme.
Teardrop lugs would probably go well,
but they've been done so many times and they've become very much linked to Voutilainen's own pieces. I'm really glad that they did something different and (for me) very good looking.
It is indeed very brave
to price the UJ2 time only watch a little higher than a Voutilainen Vingt 8. I love both (and I only buy watches that I love! ) but I think it would have been a smarter move to price the UJ2 below the Vingt 8 and below the 100k CHF psychological threshold...
I can't afford any of the three,
so I don't care too much about prices. But, from a horological standpoint, the UJ-1 is a major release, imo. Best, Emmanuel