Baselworld 2017 – The Urban Jurgensen 1140 now in Platinum with Blue Guilloche Dial

Urban Jurgensen is doing its bit to contribute to global warming this year, with this super–hot, blue dialled limited edition in platinum – Designing an elegant three-hander, stripped of all frills and superfluous details, is not an easy task, which makes the Urban Jurgensen reference 1140 all the more remarkable. Testament to the brand’s uncompromising craftsmanship and horological credentials, it is now produced in a magnificent blue-dialled version, paired with a platinum case. For the Monochrome team, it was love at first sight! A good reason to have a closer look at this quintessential dress watch born from a unique perception of elegance.

The Urban Jurgensen reference 1140 is an exquisite, round dress watch. In the latest version, its 40mm case has been forged from the noblest of all metals; platinum. It features the brand’s traditional stepped bezel and tear drop shaped lugs, individually soldered to the case body. The balance of this 3-piece construction is magnificent. The sapphire crystal is slightly cambered while the case back comes with a flat sapphire glass.

One of the defining elements of this limited edition is its stunning blue dial. Simply to-die-for. The lay-out is pefectly balanced, with the large small seconds indication at 6. The result of a complex manufacturing process, it is crafted from solid silver and hand finished. It is subtly patterned with guilloché motifs – grains d’orge and damier – skillfully performed on a lathe. The dial is repeatedly brought to rose heat and treated with acid to produce its unique warm shine and then imbued with the brand’s rich, deep, propietary blue. The light-catching applied arabic numerals are not stamped but cut out from a gold sheet, and then they are painstakingly hand polished to achieve a slightly domed face. The circular brushed chapter ring is another nice touch.

Designed in the Urban Jurgensen characteristic style, the hands (with the emblematic ‘eye’ on the hour hand) are cut from white gold and patiently hand finished and polished.

Expert craftsmanship and substance

The 1140 PT blue limited edition is powered by the Urban Jurgensen propietary P4 caliber with manual winding. This large twin-barrel movement offers a 72 hours power reserve and runs at 21’600 vibrations per hour.

As always with Urban Jurgensen the finishing of the movement is topnotch with Geneva stripes radiating from the balance wheel and perlage visible on the mainplate. The contours of the three bridges are highlighted with superb anglage. The full balance wheel bridge is openworked and features magnificent interior and exterior angles, while holding in place a large balance wheel with adjustment screws. The caliber number is engraved on a marking plate riveted to the wheel train bridge. Screws are thermally blued, jewel sinks and recesses are finely hand polished. The click spring circling the ratchet wheel is another nice touch.

The Urban Jurgensen 1140 PT blue dial limited edition features centre hours, minutes and a subsidiary seconds indication at 6 o’clock. The hacking seconds function allows for precise adjustment of the time. It is worn on a blue alligator strap with platinum folding buckle. It is a limited production of 30 pieces.

The 1140 PT limited edition radiates timeless beauty. With it, Urban Jurgensen has created a superb watchmaking classic, whilst retaining the brand’s distinctive elegance. It is a superb example of uncompromising craftsmanship, reflecting the ethics of the company and its carefully thought-out approach. And its new blue guilloché dial is simply exquisite. Hats off! For more information, visit www.urbanjurgensen.com.

Technical specifications – Urban Jürgensen PT blue

• Case: 40 mm x 10.5 mm – platinum case – sapphire crystals – 30m water resistant
• Movement: calibre P4 – manual winding – 32.00 mm x 5.20 mm – 72h power reserve – 21,600 vibrations/h – 23 jewels – hours, minutes and small seconds – stop seconds.
• Strap : alligator leather with platinum folding buckle
• Limited edition of 30 pieces
• Price: to be confirmed