Kari Voutilainen, a model watchmaker with Finnish roots, took over the Urban Jürgensen brand at the end of 2021 from his long-time friend Peter Baumberger, who has since died, with the help of a financially strong group of investors. Then it became quiet around Kari Voutilainen and Urban Jürgensen. Tick-Talk in conversation with Voutilainen about the great responsibility of taking over such a historic brand, which is by no means possible with “copy – paste”.

In November 2021, you took over the traditional brand together with a financially strong group of investors. After that, things went quiet around Kari Voutilainen and Urban Jürgensen, so the industry is expecting a big bang?
I think that this is the case and we are working for it.




In our preliminary discussion, you informed me that you want to completely resurrect Urban Jürgensen. Why don’t you build on the work of Dr Helmut Crott and Sören Jenry Petersen? That would be easier for you and wouldn’t cause confusion in the market?
To relaunch the company, we must have new fresh look, respecting the identity of the brand. This what we are working on. I prefer the Best solution not the easiest.


The founding year of this historic brand with roots in Denmark dates back to 1773 (5 years before the death of Voltaire). The brand has always been undervalued, which is what made it so interesting, or how do you see it?
I don’t agree on the statement that brand has been undervalued, Jürgensen watches were reference in watchmaking on 19th century, when both, Urban and Jules were family owned.
The Jürgensen DNA includes round classic precious metal cases, hand-guilloched dials, the unmistakable horns and the blued screws in the movement. Do you want to adopt this DNA or would this be the ‘copy/paste’ that you don’t want under any circumstances (you mentioned this in our preliminary discussion)?
New collection will have a strong identity, which will respect the heritage but will also have a new look. But not copy past anything from the watches we see on market.



Derek Pratt, who died in 2009, and Peter Baumberger, who died in 2010, initially used the Zenith El Primero (before Ebel and Rolex) for the Reference 1, the Triple Calendar, Moonphase, Chronograph. For Ref. 3, the perpetual calendar, he used the Frédéric Piguet Calibre 7 in 1979. You informed me that Jean-Francois Mojon (Chronode) will be developing a new movement for Urban Jürgensen. What do you have to say about this?
Chronode did develop the movement in the past, now we will have our own in-house movements, developed by watch engineers working in our premises.


Between 1982 and 2010, Urban Jürgensen launched 11 wristwatches, Ref. 1 (Triple Calendar, Moonphase, Chronograph) to 11 (with the in-house P8 calibre). Ref. 7, for example, was the Diaplago model (diamonds, platinum, gold), which didn’t really fit in with the concept in terms of design and style, but it brought a lot of money into Peter Baumberger’s coffers and made the brand famous around the world. Which models will you surprise us with?
This we will discover during the launch on 2025.
In 2023, Urban Jürgensen celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding. Apart from an exhibition of Dr Helmut Crott’s Urban Jürgensen collection, nothing happened, or is the brand, new a brand with quiet tones? For me, the anniversary of the brand was not adequately celebrated – in line with the value of the brand. Why?
Practical circumstances, we need time to make our movements ready and it would be a mistake to rush and present 3d pictures and half-finished watches. When we are launching, we will have watches ready to deliver.
Managing Urban Jürgensen is a big responsibility – you have to understand and love the brand. How do you see that?
I did work for Peter Baumberger from 1996, I made restoration, perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, tourbillons and services for UJ watches. I was very good friend with Peter and I have great respect what he made. I love Scandinavian roots, design which is close to me.
Let’s take another look back: when Urban Jürgensen is mentioned, the name Jules Jürgensen is mentioned. Please explain that to us? In addition, a line with the name Alfred was launched under Sören, what was the idea behind it?
This is the question, which is to Soren, I don’t know why Alfred model was decided to do. Jules was Urbans brother who made incredible career in Switzerland during 19th century.
Please describe in a few words how you personally see Urban Jürgensen?
Urban Jürgensen himself as a extremely talented watchmaker who could build a first class brand, history is unspoiled and this company has been active more than 250 years. I am persuading that we will bring fresh air on high end watchmaking, with great passion.
Thank you very much for the interesting conversation, Kari!
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