The Derek Pratt N°1 Oval Pocket Watch from Urban Jürgensen und Sønner
Setting a record! This unique, historic platinum pocket tourbillon handcrafted by Derek Pratt is thrilling the most ardent collectors. Particularly since it comes from the secret and fascinating collection of world expert Helmut Crott.
The Derek Pratt N°1 Oval Pocket Watch from Urban Jürgensen und Sønner set a record at the Phillips Reloaded auction, fetching an impressive price of way over one million. Crafted by Derek Pratt and decorated by Kari Voutilainen between 1982 and 2005, this platinum pocket watch features a detent escapement, tourbillon, and winding key.
It is a rare masterpiece from the secret collection of Helmut Crott and exemplifies the theme of the auction, ‘The Rebirth of Mechanical Watchmaking, 1980-1999’. Derek Pratt, a respected watchmaker, was awarded the Gaïa Prize in 1999 and was known for his contributions to the field of horology. His friendship with fellow watchmaker Georges Daniels and his accolades from the British Horological Institute highlight his status as a horological genius of the 20th century.
A horological cornerstone of history
Danish brand now owned by watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, Derek Pratt honors great watchmakers like Breguet and Jürgensen. With a background in antique restoration, Pratt’s creativity and skill shine in his 34 ultra-complicated pocket watches for collector Peter Bamberger.
At auction in 2024, a masterpiece from Pratt’s private collection offers a chance to own a piece of horological history, according to Logan R. Baker of Phillips. Renowned collector Dr. Helmut Crott admires Pratt’s talent, noting the archaic tools used in his workshop. Pratt’s dedication to traditional methods over modernity is evident in his work.
World-renowned expert Dr. Helmut Crott
Talking about some photos found in Derek Pratt’s workshop, with whom he had befriended, Helmut Crott, a major collector, says: “I showed these photos to my 82-year-old dial maker, who has spent 65 years in the dial business. He was very astonished by the tools Derek used. They seemed to him archaic, but he said someone who can use these kinds of tools must be very talented.”
