Story Highlight
– Timothée Chalamet invests in Swiss watchmaker Urban Jürgensen.
– He acquires minority stake with strategic external investors.
– Chalamet to serve as creative advisor for the brand.
– Urban Jürgensen established in 1773, has rich history.
– Chalamet likens watchmaking to filmmaking in artistry and precision.
Full Story
Timothée Chalamet, renowned Hollywood actor and partner to social media influencer Kylie Jenner, has made headlines by acquiring a minority equity stake in acclaimed watchmaker Urban Jürgensen, a brand with over 250 years of history.
The announcement confirmed that Chalamet has joined a select group of strategic investors in the family-owned Swiss company. In addition to his investment, he will serve as a creative advisor, helping to shape the brand’s future direction.
Last month, Chalamet attended the Oscars sporting an Urban Jürgensen UJ-2 timepiece, a model developed during the leadership of esteemed watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. His interest in Urban Jürgensen reportedly blossomed through a connection with CEO Alex Rosenfield, driven by a mutual appreciation for independent watchmaking.
Rosenfield expressed his impressions from their initial encounter: “When we first met, we were struck by Timothée’s curiosity and interest in independent watchmaking.” He elaborated on the brand’s ethos, “UJ’s philosophy is expressed through the quality of the work, the preservation of traditional techniques, and a focus on doing things properly at every stage. It was this way of thinking that first resonated with Timothée and will define our partnership.”
The CEO highlighted the unique essence of handmade watches, stating, “There is a certain magic in wearing a handmade watch that carries the spirit of its maker and the genius of the artisans who work on it,” adding that both he and Chalamet hope to broaden awareness of this magic in the watch community.
Chalamet himself became captivated by artisanal watchmaking through a film director he collaborated with two years ago. He appreciates the skill and commitment required in the craft. “I started to see it as a sibling to filmmaking — a precise expression, just on a different scale,” he noted. He continued, “One lives on an IMAX screen, the other within 48 by 40 by 10 millimeters, but both have the ability to hold entire worlds within them.”
Reflecting on his partnership with Urban Jürgensen, he remarked, “What drew me in was how clearly the focus was on the watches themselves: on craft, on process, on getting it right. It also felt like something different than the typical arrangement; more of a creative collaboration than a traditional endorsement. I’m excited to be involved and to continue exploring this world alongside them.”
Urban Jürgensen boasts a rich legacy, having originated in Copenhagen in 1773 as “Larpent & Jürgensen” under the guidance of Jürgen Jürgensen, paving the way for four generations of craftsmanship. His son, Urban, gained acclaim as a watchmaker in the 19th century, collaborating with figures such as Breguet and Arnold, and notably published “How To Measure Time Accurately By Use Of Clocks” in 1804, which became essential reading for watchmakers of that era.
Urban’s descendants continued his legacy, with Jüles Jürgensen shifting production to Switzerland in 1836. By 1912, the last family member to manage the company, Jacques Alfred Jürgensen, passed away, leading to its division. Portions of the company were acquired by American interests and transitioned via the Heuer brand.
Following fluctuating fortunes over the decades, including a period that saw less reputable timepieces produced, Urban Jürgensen was revitalised in 1986 under Peter Baumberger, who, alongside watchmaker Derek Pratt, initiated a new era of respectability.
After Baumberger’s death in 2010, Dr. Helmut Crott took ownership, successfully reuniting Urban Jürgensen with the Jüles Jürgensen legacy. The company returned to Danish hands in 2014 under Søren Jenry Petersen, who pursued an independent vision of craftsmanship rooted in tradition.
The company’s most recent chapter began in 2021 when the Rosenfield family acquired the brand. Andrew Rosenfield, a Chicago investor, alongside his son Alex as co-CEO with Kari Voutilainen, has set a course for the future of Urban Jürgensen, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic. Voutilainen, having served four years in the executive role, remains a Board Member and Senior Strategic Advisor.
