Split-Seconds” Jules Jürgensen

“Split-Seconds” Jules Jürgensen, Copenhagen, No. 15525, Made circa 1900. Fine minute repeating 18K pink gold keyless pocket watch with split seconds chronograph, register and Jürgensen’s patent hand setting mechanism. Four-body, “bassine et filets”, polished, the back cover engraved with amonogram, five-bar hinges. Dedicated hinged gold cuvette. White enamel with Breguet numerals, outer minute track and concentric redpainted fifth of seconds indexes, outer Arabic fiveminute/second numerals, subsidiary seconds at 6, 30-minute register at 12.Blackened Breguet hands. 18’’’, rhodium plated, 32 jewels,straight line lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, bluedsteel Breguet balance-spring, index regulator, repeatingon two gongs activated by a slide in the band.Dial, case and movement signed.Diam. 52.5 mm. Notes Jules Frédéric Jürgensen (1808-1877). The son of Urban Jürgensen, and a very eminent watchmaker himself. Jules was born in Le Locle but as a child moved with his parents to Denmark. In 1830, after the death of his father the company was taken over by Jules and his brother Louis Urban. Three years later, in 1833 Jules returned to Le Locle and built up a great business. His family business was carried out by his brother and in 1886 was sold to one of the employees, H. Kiens., and was then carried on by his sons, Jules (1837-1894) and Jacques Alfred (1842-1912) and later by the House of Heuer. Jürgensen had many titles and honors, became watchmaker to the K