Lot 14

Jules Jürgensen

Chronometer 64

An extremely rare, extra flat precision pocket watch with spring detent escapement according to Thomas Earnshaw, eccentrically placed chapter ring and unusually placed auxiliary seconds

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This watch is illustrated in detail in "The Jürgensen Dynasty" by John M. R. Knudsen, Copenhagen 2013, page 204f.
It was this watch that Jules Jürgensen presented to German-Danish astronomer and mathematician Prof. Heinrich Christian Schumacher (1780-1850), in Altona in 1836. Schumacher managed, with some difficulties, to sell it to the Admiral of the Russian Black-Sea fleet, Alexey Greig. To Jules great annoyance, and Schumacher's embarrassment, the Admiral kept the watch 18 months for examination before he paid the 1000 francs, the price of the watch.
Alexey Greig is considered a co-founder of the Pulkovo Observatory. From 1840 to 1845 he was President of the Imperial Free Economic Society of Saint Petersburg.
Heinrich Christian Schumacher was adjunct professor of astronomy in Copenhagen from 1808. He directed the Mannheim observatory from 1813 to 1815, and then in 1815 was appointed Professor of Astronomy in Copenhagen and Director of the Observatory.