This platinum,Reference 2, ispart of a small, yet significant collection of Urban Jrgensen watches, complete with dials hand-finished by the late Derek Pratt. Part of a limited series of Urban Jrgensen wristwatches introduced during the early 90s, these housed amodern FrdricPiguet movement with added complications also developed by Pratt.

With its unassuming 38 mm size,and svelte profile matched by a highly-refined, Frdric Piguet calibre, it's arguably one of the most elegant offerings of the modern Urban Jrgensen era. Understated both in styling and case-size, a totalof just 175 examples were ever made; 122 of these believed to have been cased in gold, with those in platinum being that much rarer.

A Strong Foundation

Urban Jrgensen have a rich and varied history, dating back to the late 18th Century. The manufactures namesake, Urban Jrgensen (1776-1830), along with his father Jrgen Jrgensen, have long been credited with introducing the watch industry to Denmark. Shortly after the birth of his son in 1776, Jrgen Jrgensen moved to Le Locle in Switzerland to work with Jacques-Frdric Houriet, laying the foundations for a Danish-Swiss connection which still exists over 240 years later.

In 1985, the brand was acquired by Peter Baumberger, who together with master English horologist Derek Pratt, set about carrying forward a legacy of elegant and complicated timepieces, whilst pioneering concepts of performance, stability and movement aesthetics. The Reference 2, epitomises this period of the brand's history in the best possible way.

The Design

The 38 mmplatinum case of thisReference 2, features the brands distinctive teardrop lugs and convex bezel. Forged separately from the case, the classic teardrop lugs are carefully heat-treated, hand-polished and individually soldered into place using mid-century horological methods, with no visible soldering line.

A fine, outer chapter ring with minute markers is separated from an inner polished chapter of black (inked) Roman numerals, forming a nice contrast against the monochromatic appearance of the dial and case. The centre of the dial occupies yet another section, decorated by a diamond-guilloch pattern. A cartouche at twelve o'clock references Urban Jrgensen Copenhagen. All parts are hand-crafted from beginning to end; including the slender, solid-gold observatoirehour and minute hands.

At twelve o'clock, the aperture for the moonphase is shown, adding further level of depth to the dial. This understated display also displays a basket-work pattern beneath, encasing the unique reference number of the watch.The large subsidiary register at six o'clock is decorated by more hand-turned, basket-work patterning, enclosed within the polished date chapter. The dates themselves centre arounda slender gold indicator, withan elegant counter-balance at one end; a subtlemirroring of the crescent shaped moonphase aperture.

The Movement

The ultra-slimFrdric Piguet calibre is expertly-finished and elaborately hand-decorated, featuring a 21k gold guilloche rotor, signed with the UJScrest. This automatically-wound movement is adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, with 35 jewels.

Closer look