Historically interesting Danish/Swiss precision watch Circa 1853

Gold chronometer by Jules Jürgensen
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An extremely rare, fine and historically interesting Danish/Swiss 18 carat gold half-hunting cased precision pocket watch, circa 1853. Three-bridge movement, key wind, a pivoted detent chronometer escapement and gold screw compensation balance. The gold cuvette with a dedication engraving: The President of the United States to Captain Peter Conrad Petrie of the British Screw Steamer ‘City of Washington’ for humanity to Shipwrecked American Seamen 1859. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions, sunk subsidiary seconds and moon hands. An engine-turned case. Dial signed, case numbered, movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 132 g
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Signed: Jules Jürgensen Copenhagen
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This watch is a presentation watch of the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan, 1791-1868 to Captain Peter Conrad Petrie for the rescue of shipwrecked American sailors in 1859.
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This exceptional timepiece is listed as a presentation watch in the ‘Mercantile Navy List’ as early as 1861. This annual publication lists all British registered vessels one-quarter of a ton and over, including coastal vessels, ferries and pleasure craft. There it says: “The American Government awarded Petrie a gold chronometer and chain, for picking up at sea from their boats the crew of the ‘Grey Oak’ of New York, abandoned in March 1859. The ‘Grey Oak’ foundered in the Atlantic Ocean. Its crew were rescued by the British screw steamer ‘City of Washington’ under Captain Peter Conrad Petrie. The auxiliary screw steamer ‘City of Washington’ was built in 1855, for the Liverpool, New York & Philadelphia Steam Ship Company, owned by William Inman and the Richardson Brothers of Liverpool. On completion, the ship was immediately chartered by the French for trooping to the Crimea. Initially 319′ long, ‘City of Washington’ was increased to 358′ in 1869 and served until 1873 when she was lost after running aground, twenty miles from Cape Sable.
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Jules Frédéric Jürgensen was born in 1808 and died in 1877. He was the son of Urban Jürgensen and a very eminent watchmaker himself. Jules was born in Le Locle, Switzerland but as a child moved to Denmark with his parents. In 1830, after his father’s death, the company was taken over by Jules and his brother Louis Urban. In 1833, Jules returned to Le Locle and built up a successful business. Jürgensen, who was watchmaker to the King of Denmark, was made a Knight of the Légion d’Honneur and Knight of the Royal Order of Dannebrog. Between 1870 and 1876 he was a member of the commission of surveillance of the Geneva School of Horology, along with Ekegren, Potter and others. He further was a member of many commissions in Switzerland judging horological contests. He stamped most of his watches on the pillar plate under the dial ‘Jules Jürgensen of Copenhagen’.

Jürgensen invented his bow-setting mechanism in 1867. He wanted to prevent any accidental changing of the watch setting. In his design, the cover had to be opened to turn the bow far enough to engage the setting pin. In some of his watches, he did not want the back cover, which was not spring-loaded, to be opened by the owner. Therefore, for his watches with an open face, he used a special case in which the front was designed with a bezel utilizing a lifting mechanism like that in a hunting case. The setting could be done safely, by first opening the front by pushing on the stem, turning the bow until it touched the crystal and then setting the watch. After his death, the business was continued by his brother and in 1886 it was sold to an employee, H. Kiens, whose sons Jules (1837-1894) and Jacques Alfred (1842-1912) continued the business, as did the House of Heuer afterwards.