Silver watch marked Copenhagen, by Jules Jurgensen; Denmark, c. 1860; dia. 2” (5.08 cm.).
Urban Jurgensen (1776–1830) was the most famous of the watchmaking family. His son Jules founded a factory at Le Locle, producing high quality watches: this example is very pleasing having no unnecessary ornament and a clear dignified dial. Note the large seconds dial for extra legibility, and the slide near the figure III for operating the repeating mechanism.
It has a chronometer escapement with a pivoted detent, but is classed as a watch because of its repeating work (top left hand corner of movement). The balance spring is of the Breguet overcoil type and again unlike a chronometer, there is a regulator bearing the words ‘Fast’ and ‘Slow’ in English; also this movement is built up of separate bars whereas a marine chronometer has the full plate type with the balance above.
