eter Baumberger, who was keenly interested in antique and fine watches, stumbled upon a shop in Copenhagen where he discovered exquisite timepieces made by Urban Jürgensen. Initially, he retained the rights just to the name “Urban Jürgensen Copenhagen,” but eventually Gerhard Sheufens sold the company and trademark to him.

Peter Baumberger began producing fine tourbillon pocket watches in the midst of the quartz crisis, when many watch companies were facing bankruptcy. In 1982 he introduced his first wristwatch, the Ref. 1, based on the Zenith El Primero chronograph calibre with calendar and moon phase indications. This model was produced until 1986, with a total of 186 timepieces made.

Astronomical pocket watch with minute repeater, perpetual calendar and equation of time indication. Unique piece.

Its successor, the Ref. 2, was a beautifully proportioned perpetual calendar wristwatch with a Frederic Piguet automatic movement. Its elegant case, available in platinum and gold, measured 38 mm in diameter with a slim profile. The perpetual calendar module, an Urban Jürgensen signature complication, featured traditionally hand-finished parts and an attractive layout. Introduced in 1986, 122 of the Ref. 2 were produced: 50 in platinum and 172 in gold.

Ref. 3 followed, maintaining the perpetual calendar and a similar dial layout to its predecessor, but adding a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, in line with the moon phase display. The power reserve mechanism utilised an innovative conical system, a feat of engineering given the limited space. More than a hundred Ref. 3 models were produced, in both platinum and gold, retaining the same case size as the Ref. 2.

Ref. 2 with platinum case, featuring an in-house perpetual calendar with day-date-month and moon phase indications. 38 mm diameter, silver dial engine-turned by hand, solid gold hands.

Urban Jürgensen continued to produce further models, including the Ref. 9 featuring a perpetual calendar with hand indications instead of windows, and several models without perpetual calendar including the Ref. 4 and 8, which displayed hours, minutes and seconds.

The 1990s also saw the production of several unique pocket watches in highly limited special editions, featuring minute repeaters, perpetual calendars and chronographs.

Ref. 3 in a yellow gold case. Includes an in- house perpetual calendar and power reserve indication. 38 mm diameter case, silver dial engine-turned by hand, solid gold hands.