Under New Management

Historic Urban Jürgensen relaunches with independent watchmaking luminary Kari Voutilainen

- text and photos by Zen Love

— This is an age of co-branding and product collabs, one in which the fusion of two brands is easily digestible. One of this year's biggest watch-world revivals might be understood in such terms. When independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen took the helm of the historic brand Urban Jürgensen as Co-CEO, he also brought his own strong identity and celebrated name to the table.

Behind the rebooted Urban Jürgensen is a lot of history, Voutilainen's own approach to watchmaking, as well as a modern vision for the brand influenced by Co-CEO Alex Rosenfield. But you had me at "Voutilainen". If anyone could do the Urban Jürgensen name justice and whip up excitement for its relaunch, it's him.

WatchTime joined a group of journalists in Los Angeles for the official launch event in June 2025, to see the brand's first under-new-management collections. Three new models, along with much marketing and fanfare, set the stage for a new era ahead in this 250-year-plus brand saga.

Since 1773

We're talking about a heritage with origins tracing to 1773 Copenhagen, one that was family owned for generations, and which has been in continuous operation since— though through rough patches and some changing of hands along the way. 1773 was three years before the man named Urban Jürgensen was born. It's when his father Jürgen Jürgensen (the original Danish ø having been replaced by the German ü) set the family on its timekeeping path, applying to the watchmaking guild in Copenhagen. But it was Urban who would leave a mark on horological history and give his name to the brand that endured.