AHCI - PuristSPro report: Urban Jürgensen at Baselworld 2014

PuristSPro report: Urban Jürgensen at Baselworld 2014

Urban Jürgensen
Chronometer with sweep second, and
Tourbillon Minute Repeater Regulator

The Swiss manufacturer with the Danish tradition has reached a culmination point in its history three years ago, with the presentation of the first classic detent/chronometer escapement in a wristwatch. These accurate, yet delicate escapements with their characteristic vertically stacked balance spring, have appeared in two other watches this year, both developed by Christophe Claret. Urban Jürgensen’s detent escapement, however, was mostly developed by Jean-François Mojon, with the contribution of Kari Voutilainen.

In its first version, the hand-wound P8 chronometer had a small second hand. In order to appreciate the contemplative jumps three times per second, a large central sweep second was realized in this year’s variant. This central second is driven indicrectly, by means of an intermediary gear. However, it is moving absolutely regular and smooth, with no noticeable stutter or irregular jumps, as is so often seen in watches with indirect second hands.

The other specifications remain the same as in the original chronometer: two mainspring barrels add to a power reserve of approximately 88 hours, represented by the prominent power reserve display at 12. Attractive guilloche patterns on the dial and heat-blued hands sum up to a classic-looking, highly attractive watch.

The second new piece on display is in fact a „pièce unique“, a singular watch: a tourbillon minute repeater with a regulator dial layout and the dial made from fired enamel. Case with a diameter of 42.5mm made from platinum (of course), although this material is not perfect for the chimes’ acoustics. The 18,000 A/h tourbillon has a power reserve of about 40 hours.