An exceptional watch manufacturer with marvellous haute horlogerie timepieces, Urban Jürgensen is a powerful presence between collectors. The most powerful characteristic of the brand is the traditional horological techniques used for its pieces. Exceptional craftsmanship and spectacular designs assure to the maison a well-deserved place among the most loved niche watch manufacturers. Urban Jürgensen unveiled recently the new headquarters situated in a historic villa from Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. To celebrate the new atelier, Urban Jürgensen comes with a new watch – The Alfred. A purist watch designed and manufactured in the best Urban Jürgensen way: a warm, classic and powerful design, an outstanding movement and distinguished finishes.
The Alfred follows closely the traditional Urban Jürgensen lines: three parts construction case with the brand’s key signature soldered tear drops lugs, Grenage dial and the alluring brand’s hands.
Urban Jürgensen – The Alfred
The dedication of Urban Jürgensen watchmakers to the traditional horlogerie and the beautiful wristwatches of the Copenhagen originated maison make the brand to be loved and especially appreciated here at Deployant. We reviewed with great pleasure the Urban Jürgensen Reference 1140 C, and earlier this summer the Reference 1741.
Urban Jürgensen The Alfred celebrates the new atelier from Biel/Bienne paying a tribute to the name of Jacques Alfred Jürgensen, the last watchmaker of the Jürgensen family. More about the history of the brand can be found in the introduction of the reviewed Reference 1741.
The case’s shape is sensuous: a combination of convex and concave curves. The middle case features the nice lugs that need up to 8 forging cycles, being manufactured in pairs using 50 tonnes pressure and slow heat treatment. The lugs are hand milled, polished to the perfect shape needed for soldering. The soldering process remains a company secret.
The Alfred follows all the principles cemented by the brand in time with a touch of modern. The watch has a contemporary 42mm stainless steel case with each lug individually forget and soldered on the case. The technique is so well mastered by the maison’s watchmakers that there are no visible marks of the process on the case. The three-parts construction with polished convex bezel has a top domed crystal and a see-through case back. The recessed fluted crown engraved with the Urban Jürgensen logo contributes to the classic appearance. The case is simple but breathtaking.
The dial’s manufacturing starts from a silver solid plate. The markings and indexes are engraved, hand filled with lacquer and polished with diamond paper.
The dial of the Alfred is realised using a single piece of solid silver. The dial is decorated using a two-century-old manual technique – grenage that gives the frosted look. The calligraphic numerals, the railway track of the minutes, including the small seconds sub-dial are engraved and lacquer filled. The final step in dial making is to brush the excess material with a mixture of powders, salts and oil. This technique makes each dial unique.
The hands have a multi-part construction using several finishes and manufacturing techniques, including precision lathe and mirror polishing. The contrast with the grenage dial is spectacular.
The dial is adorned with elegant and the brand’s distinctive hands. The hands manufacturing requires 50 steps and more than a day of manual work including mirror polishing and bluing by thermal processes.
The Calibre P4 is superbly decorated. The bridges have the edges bevelled and polished, polished sinks and they are fixed with blued steel screws. The balance’s bridge is skeletonised permitting a better view of the balance wheel itself and to the main plate with a perlée finish. A nice detail are the sun-ray Cotes du Genève divided between the bridges.
Turning the watch, a glimpse of the Calibre P4 is revealed through the sapphire case back. The hand wound movement is well decorated, the sun-ray Cotes du Genève in the centre point to the 3Hz balance wheel. The wheel is visible through the skeletonised bridge. The bevelling of the constituent elements is superbly executed. The decorations are exceptional, pleasing any critical eye. The Alfred watch has a power reserve of 72 hours, thanks to the twin barrel design.
The Alfred is, by all means, a beautiful watch. Urban Jürgensen keeps alive traditional horological manufacturing crafts and know-how. The watch is available directly at the Urban Jürgensen atelier. The interested collectors will be hosted by the company’s CEO, Soren Jenry Petersen. He will introduce the buyers to the watchmakers and personally hand over the finished watches.
The Alfred is a timeless wristwatch with traditional finishes, excellently executed and an exceptional price.
Urban Jürgensen The Alfred Specification and Price
Urban Jürgensen The Alfred has a price of EUR14,300 (plus taxes) or CHF 15’200 (plus taxes).
Movement
Calibre: Urban Jürgensen P4
Type: manual winding
Dimensions: Ø 32.0mm, thickness 5.2mm
Jewels: 23
Power reserve: 72 hours
Frequency: 3Hz / 21’600 vph
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds
Case
Material: Stainless steel
Dimensions of the case: Ø 42.0mm
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal
Crown: Screw-in crown titanium
Caseback: Open back with flat sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 3atm
Strap
Material: Brown Calf Leather
Buckle: Classic C-buckle in Stainless Steel, signed Urban Jürgensen.
