The Oval N1 Grail Watch by Derek Pratt

The iconic Urban Jürgensen Oval Watch No. 1 is renowned in the watchmaking world as one of the grail watches.

This horological masterpiece was created by Derek Pratt for the Urban Jürgensen brand and was inspired by the proportions widely used by Abraham-Louis Breguet. With all his mastery of traditional watchmaking, it took Pratt 23 years—almost half of his horological career—to complete this audacious project. Everything in this pocket marvel is made by hand, from the silvery engine-turned dial, where the time is indicated by the rounded, solid-gold Breguet-style hour and minute hands, to the impeccable finishing of the intricate mechanism hidden behind the hinged lid on the reverse. The movement's layout showcases the finest examples of various finishing techniques, which require endless patience, precision, and an extraordinary level of craftsmanship. And the flying tourbillon with an integrated remontoire, invented by Pratt, is undoubtedly the highlight of the watch.

Watch this video to learn more about this outstanding creation, and discover who also collaborated with Pratt on this project.

The Urban Jürgensen Oval Watch No. 1 will be on sale at the ‪Phillips auction‬ "Reloaded: The Rebirth of Mechanical Watchmaking, 1980–1999" in Geneva on 8 November.