Urban Jürgensen, the historic Danish-Swiss watchmaker, has returned to the spotlight with a bold relaunch led by an unexpected duo: Alex Rosenfield and his father, Andrew Rosenfield. Neither had planned to enter the watch industry. Alex has a background in fashion, marketing, and media, while Andrew is the president of financial giant Guggenheim Partners.
Yet their passion—especially Andrew’s long-standing admiration for Urban Jürgensen—sparked a mission to revive the 250-year-old brand. “It wasn’t our intention to own a watch brand—ever,” said Alex during an interview in Geneva. “But my father started collecting Urban Jürgensen in the late ’90s and has always loved it. He considered it one of the great watch brands.”
When Andrew discovered the brand was facing financial trouble, he stepped in to help. He quickly turned to master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, who began his career at Urban Jürgensen. Now co-CEO alongside Alex, Voutilainen oversees the brand’s workshop in Bienne, Switzerland, while continuing to run his own prestigious label in Môtiers.
“Kari is very entrepreneurial and creative,” said Alex. “We were really lucky—it was a good fit.” The new watches clearly reflect Voutilainen’s craftsmanship. Signature design details such as Roman numerals, Breguet-style hands, and meticulously finished dials appear throughout the relaunch collection.
Three new models mark the brand’s return:
- UJ1: A limited-edition piece available in platinum (with silver or gray dial) or gold (with silver dial), limited to 25 pieces each. Priced at CHF 368,000 (about $448,663).
- UJ2: A time-only model with a double-balance-wheel natural escapement. Priced at CHF 105,000 (about $128,000).
- UJ3: A perpetual calendar featuring an instantaneous moon phase complication developed by Andreas Strehler. Priced at CHF 168,000 (about $204,834).
With deep respect for the brand’s heritage and modern vision under Voutilainen’s leadership, the Rosenfields aim to position Urban Jürgensen once again among the top names in high horology.
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