275 Urban Jürgensen Very Elegant and Rare, Perpetual Calendar Automatic Wirstwatch in Yellow Gold, Silvered Guilloché Dial, Reference 2, Coming from the Personal Collection of Renato Della Valle

Estimate: €20,000 –⁠ 40,000

Model: Reference 2
Case Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet Material: Leather Strap
Year: 1992
Movement: Automatic
Caliber: FP 71
Case N°: 4125
Movement N°: 060-100
Dimensions: 38 mm
Signed: Dial, Movement and Case
Literature: Coming from the Personal Collection of Renato Della Valle

The Urban Jürgensen brand, initially established as “Larpent & Jürgensen” in 1740 by Jürgen Jürgensen in Denmark, has undergone various transformations over time. Following Jürgen’s passing in 1811, his son Urban continued the legacy, leading to a name change in 1814 to Jules Jürgensen. The brand primarily manufactured watches in Switzerland and remained within the family until 1912. After subsequent changes in ownership, including a sale to a U.S.-based company in 1936, Jules Jürgensen watches continued production in Switzerland until 1957. In 1974, watch distributor Mort Clayman acquired the company, which eventually ceased operations after his passing in 2010. In 2011, Dr. Helmut Crott obtained the rights, and in 2021, Finnish watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, along with investors, took control of the Urban Jürgensen company, appointing Voutilainen as CEO. This yellow-gold Urban Jürgensen Reference 2 is part of a small yet significant collection of Urban Jürgensen watches, featuring dials meticulously finished by the late Derek Pratt. A limited series introduced in the early ’90s, these wristwatches housed a contemporary Frédéric Piguet movement with additional complications developed by Pratt. With its modest 38 mm size and sleek profile complemented by a refined Frédéric Piguet caliber, it stands as one of the most sophisticated offerings of the modern Urban Jürgensen era. Unassuming in both style and case size, only 175 examples were ever produced, with 122 believed to be encased in gold and the remainder in platinum. This is the No. 060, a very beautiful and rare round case 18k yellow-gold wristwatch with a perpetual calendar. The silver guilloche dial with Roman numerals, subsidiary dial for the date, apertures for the day and month, and moon phases is intact, powered by an automatic movement and is consigned by the family of the original owner. Originating from the private collection of Renato della Valle. Renato Della Valle, with a prolific career in business, real estate, and innovation, has left an indelible mark. Starting in 1961 at “il Giorno” newspaper, he later joined Gabetti, significantly boosting company revenues. In 1969, he founded Della Valle Immobiliare, while his tenure as CEO at Giorgio Armani and founding ventures like SIB and Diffusion Phone showcase his diverse business acumen. With forays into technology and pharmaceuticals, Renato Della Valle’s entrepreneurial journey continues with Drug-PIN, where he presently serves as CEO and a primary investor.