Urban Jürgensen, the legendary independent watchmaker established in Copenhagen in 1773, boldly enters a transformative new chapter, reclaiming its position at the forefront of horological mastery. Under fresh family stewardship, visionary leadership—by master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen and brand strategist Alex Rosenfield—, and an entirely reimagined collection featuring proprietary in-house movements, the brand launches an ambitious renaissance that seamlessly weaves together centuries of artisanal heritage with a bold contemporary cultural perspective.
In the pantheon of horological legends, few names command the reverence of Urban Jürgensen. Born in 1773 in Copenhagen under Jürgen Jürgensen's founding vision and elevated to its inaugural golden era by his son Urban Jürgensen, the manufacture swiftly garnered international recognition for groundbreaking scientific innovations and exquisitely crafted marine chronometers commissioned by the Danish Navy. Beyond Urban Jürgensen's precision-engineered instruments, his refined aesthetic sensibility, masterful technical prowess, and distinctly Scandinavian design philosophy transformed his pocket watches into objects of desire among the world's elite. During his tenure, Urban Jürgensen held the distinguished honor of serving as the official timekeeper to the Danish royal court. Across more than two centuries, the brand has maintained its reputation as the embodiment of precision, sophistication, and pioneering innovation, frequently influencing the trajectory of global watchmaking from its position of quiet excellence. Throughout the 1980s and 2000s, Urban Jürgensen experienced its second renaissance under Peter Baumberger's astute leadership and the technical genius of renowned British master watchmaker Derek Pratt, earning widespread acclaim among discerning collectors for its unrelenting commitment to craftsmanship and refined understatement. This new era represents far more than a collection launch; it marks the triumphant return of an independent horological house that continues to define the pinnacle of design elegance and manufacturing excellence.
This contemporary revival represents a homecoming, a powerful reaffirmation of Urban Jürgensen's founding principles, and the dawn of an exciting creative renaissance. Leading this transformation are Co-CEOs Kari Voutilainen and Alex Rosenfield, whose diverse yet harmonious expertise shapes the brand's revitalized identity.
Kari Voutilainen stands among the world's most distinguished independent watchmakers, holding an unprecedented eleven Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève awards—more than any other independent craftsman in the field. He returns to the brand that shaped his formative career years, now spearheading design innovation, technical advancement, and production excellence with groundbreaking new calibers and three entirely in-house developed models.
The New 2025 Collection
The 2025 collection honors Urban Jürgensen's extraordinary watchmaking heritage while reimagining its core values for the contemporary era. Each model harmonizes engineering excellence with emotional depth, driven by exclusive movements conceived, assembled, and finished according to the most exacting standards of Swiss Haute Horlogerie. From revolutionary escapement architecture to hand-guilloché dials, every element embodies the philosophy that time deserves to be kept with both absolute precision and breathtaking beauty.
The collection is divided into three different watches cased in platinum or 5N rose gold. The UJ-1 Anniversary Watch is equipped with a case measuring 39.5 mm in diameter—12.2 mm in thickness— and powered by the manual wound calibre UJ-1 with a 47-hour power reserve; the UJ-2 Three-Hand Watch with Double-Wheel Natural Escapement is equipped with a case measuring 39 mm diameter—10.9 mm in thickness—and powered by the manual wound calibre UJ-2 with a 52-hour power reserve; lastly, the UJ-3 Perpetual Calendar with Instantaneous Moon Phase is equipped with a case measuring 39 mm in diameter—13.9 mm in thickness—and powered by the manual wound calibre UJ-3 composed of 438 parts and with a 52-hour power reserve.
UJ-1 The Anniversary Watch
A masterful reinterpretation of the legendary Urban Jürgensen Derek Pratt Oval Pocket Watch, the UJ-1 accomplishes a mechanical achievement long deemed impossible: successfully miniaturizing and adapting the Oval's sophisticated tourbillon movement with remontoir d'égalité and dead-beat seconds into wristwatch form.
The UJ-1 serves as both an homage to the brand's technical heritage and a tribute to Voutilainen's journey. Restricted to 75 pieces, the UJ-1 is available across three references of 25 watches each, two in platinum and 18K rose gold.
Sticker Price CHF 360,000—approx USD 440,000. More info on Urban Jürgensen here.
UJ-2: The Three-Hand Watch with Double-Wheel Natural Escapement
An exercise in elegant restraint and sophisticated refinement, the UJ-2 showcases a double wheel natural escapement, drawing inspiration from design concepts pioneered by Urban Jürgensen's mentor Abraham Louis Breguet in the 18th century and perfected by Kari for the modern age. This innovative system delivers smoother energy transmission and achieves up to 30% superior power efficiency compared to conventional Swiss lever escapements. With each timepiece demanding 565 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, the UJ-2 embodies Urban Jürgensen's philosophy that the pursuit of perfection represents its reward.
Sticker Price CHF 105,000—approx USD 130,000. More info on Urban Jürgensen here.
UJ-3: The Perpetual Calendar with Instantaneous Moon Phase
Created through collaboration between Kari and master watchmaker-engineer Andreas Strehler, the UJ-3 seamlessly integrates the Strehler precision moon phase indication—accurate for 14,000 years—with Urban Jürgensen's double wheel natural escapement, marking the first time a serially produced perpetual calendar has incorporated this advanced escapement technology. From calendar layout conception to hand-finishing of every component, the UJ-3 exemplifies the brand's unwavering dedication to technical purity and eternal elegance.
Sticker Price CHF 168,000—approx USD 205,000. More info on Urban Jürgensen here.
TIME WELL SPENT: A New Perspective on Modern Watchmaking
Complementing its new collection, Urban Jürgensen launches its inaugural portrait series, Time Well Spent, created in partnership with acclaimed fashion photographer and Urban Jürgensen Photography Director Ellen von Unwerth. Renowned for her cinematic, emotionally resonant imagery, Ellen collaborates with Urban Jürgensen to revolutionize traditional watch photography, creating a monthly series of evocative portraits featuring diverse creative individuals completely absorbed in their passions, reinforcing the brand's fundamental belief in time both kept and spent beautifully. The inaugural installment features James Turrell, the visionary light sculptor, captured at his monumental installation, Roden Crater.
More info on Urban Jürgensen here.
