Legendary Figures of Watchmaking: Derek Pratt
Many of the watch collectors covered in this series are from when watchmaking was in the boom of the discovery phase. Watchmakers like Abraham-Louis Breguet, Ferdinand Berthoud, and Louis Moinet are some of the legendary figures covered so far. We decide to turn to someone of relative modern day watchmaking who is a massive inspiration for independent watchmakers and companies that are gaining in popularity in recent years. Max Busser from MB&F has said multiple times in interviews how big of an influence Derek Pratt has been to him and his company. So, naturally we have to see what about Pratt’s life and accomplishments makes him stand out so significantly.
Derek Pratt was born in 1938 in Orpington, Kent in England. He studied at Beckenham Technical School where he began his study of mechanical objects. His studies eventually took him to the National College of Horology based in London in 1956, where he started an apprenticeship with Smith & Sons in a three-year course. He has been recognized as one of the top students during his studies. But, he failed to complete the training. In a commemorative seminar given by the British Horological Institute, his failure to take exams was described as follows: “Traditionally, and when he embarked on the course, final-year students had completed a pocket watch, finishing and casing an ébauche. This project was suddenly changed to one on instrumentation. Derek refused to accept the change.” Derek began working with R.A. Fell on aircraft related timekeeping devices which took him to just outside of Zurich, Switzerland.
He also freelanced as a watchmaker and restorer on vintage timekeeping devices. This is where he started his relationship with Peter Baumberger, who was a dealer on antique watches and clocks. This relationship became one of the most significant of Pratt’s career. Baumberger eventually took over Urban Jürgensen in 1979, and of course Baumberger brought Pratt in as the technical director. You probably have seen Urban Jürgensen pocket watches featured in auctions from Christie’s and Phillips, and it is some of the incredible watches made during this time period that set them apart.
Pratt made one of most historic pocket watches during his time with Baumberger. The pocket watch has a flying tourbillon, remontoir, detente escapement, power reserve, power reserve, and Réaumur scale. 3 of these pocket watches were completed in an oval case from 1987 and 1992. The remontoir tourbillon allows the watch movement to require no lubrication and increases the accuracy and serviceability of the watch for the longevity of the movement. This was something that our friend Abraham-Louis Breguet played around with.
Pratt acted in this independent space as a watchmaker and created easily some of the most significant watches from a technical perspective. He produced pocket watches like the échappement naturel in 1997 with double remontoir escapement. This delivered impulses in two directions similar to the remontoir tourbillon’s produced for Urban Jürgensen, did not require lubrication. He was really the first independent watchmaker to go on his own, produce watches in collaboration with a brand, and bring to light the technical prowess of watchmaking.
Thank you Pratt for your contribution to watchmaking!
Enjoy!
