Jules Jürgensen Explained

Jules Jürgensen was a watchmaking company.

History

The company was founded by Jürgen Jürgensen in 1740 in Denmark, when Jürgen Jürgensen went into partnership with Isaac Larpent, under the name "Larpent & Jürgensen". Upon Jürgen's death in 1811, his son Urban took over the company, keeping the name.

Following Urban's death the Danish company continued its operations as Urban Jürgensen & Sønner by 1891; then, Urban Jürgensen & Sønner Eftf in 1886, while one of Urban's sons, Jules Frederik, moved to Switzerland and established a subsidiary branch.[1]

By 1919, Ed. Heuer & Co. purchased the Swiss Jürgensen operation and handled the regulation and assembly of Jules Jürgensen watches using French: ébauches from LeCoultre and Victorin Piguet, which were also suppliers for Patek Philippe. Jules Jürgensen was sold to a U.S.-based company in 1936, but watches were still produced in Switzerland until 1957, when the documentation shows the watches were made by other manufacturers and branded with the Jürgensen name.[2]

In 1974, Mort Clayman, a watch distributor in the U.S. purchased the company. According to the company's website, it [Rhapsody] has ceased operation, but is still honoring warranties.[3] Mort Clayman died in January 2010, and his survivors closed the company. In 2011, Dr. Helmut Crott, owner of Urban Jürgensen & Sønner acquired the rights from the Clayman family.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 28, 2023 . Rich Fordon . In-Depth: Urban Jürgensen, Then And Now . 2024-04-17 . Hodinkee . en.
  2. Web site: A geometric Jules Jürgensen (ETA cal. 2788) . Sky Corner . 27 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Jules Jurgensen-Rhapsody, Inc. . Jules Jurgensen-Rhapsody . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713110309/http://www.jjwatch.com/ . 13 July 2011.
  4. Web site: A Closer Look at Collecting with Dr Helmut Crott . A Collected Man . 18 September 2023.