Jules Jürgensen
Jules Jürgensen was a watchmaking company.
History
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Jules_Frederik_J%C3%BCrgensen_00.jpg/220px-Jules_Frederik_J%C3%BCrgensen_00.jpg)
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 ébauches from LeCoultre and Victorin Piguet, which were also suppliers for Patek Philippe.[1] 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]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Rich Fordon (November 28, 2023). "In-Depth: Urban Jürgensen, Then And Now". Hodinkee. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ "A geometric Jules Jürgensen (ETA cal. 2788)". Sky Corner. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ "Jules Jurgensen-Rhapsody, Inc". Jules Jurgensen-Rhapsody. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011.
- ^ "A Closer Look at Collecting with Dr Helmut Crott". A Collected Man. Retrieved 18 September 2023.