Welcome to our series highlighting the exceptional watches available through PERPETUAL, Phillips’ boutique service offering immediate access to the world’s rarest and most desirable timepieces. You can view all currently available watches by stopping in at our London headquarters at 30 Berkeley Square, or by visiting Phillips PERPETUAL online. Our new "Buy Now" button makes acquiring the watch of your dreams easier than ever.
– ˜By Logan Baker
What watch do you think of first when it comes to F.P. Journe?
Longtime classics such as the Chronomètre à Résonance, the Tourbillon Souverain, or the Chronomètre Bleu might be your answer. Or you might favor halo products such as the Sonnerie Souverain, the Astronomic, and the Centigraphe. A watch you might not think of, at least in your initial guesses, however, is the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante, Journe’s split-second chronograph that was first revealed seven years ago, in 2018.
A traditional split-seconds chronograph is a true high watermark for any watchmaker, big or small. It’s rarefied terrain that separates the wheat from the chaff, at least in the world of high-end luxury watch collecting. Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, and Vacheron Constantin are all well-known for their rattrapante references, but it’s a complication F.P. Journe had yet to tackle until the late 2010s.
F.P. Journe’s very first split-seconds experiment came at the Only Watch Charity Auction in November 2017, when a unique piece Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante sold for more than one million Swiss Francs. A few months later, a production version of the watch would officially launch as part of Journe’s LineSport collection, in either a titanium, pink gold, or platinum case. The movements used in the platinum and pink gold examples were created using Journe’s traditional pink gold construction, while the movement in the titanium example was built using an unusual material for watchmaking: aluminum.
The split-seconds chronograph is one of the most challenging and fascinating complications to develop and execute, and it’s always fascinating to examine the various contenders in the segment. The Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante is no longer a “new” watch, but it is a fascinating one that is surprisingly not discussed as frequently as some of the industry’s more well-known contemporary split-seconds chronographs, such as the Patek 5370P or the A. Lange & Söhne Double Split and Triple Split.
And that’s a shame. The Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante has a lot to offer any serious watch collector that’s interested in the mechanics behind a split-seconds chronograph but desires it in a wearable and sporty package. The only other watches to combine a rattrapante complication with an integrated bracelet that I can think of are a small number of Royal Oak Concept and Grand Complication pieces, as well as the Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante (more on that below). The Journe predates the Czapek by a few years, of course, and all of the Royal Oak models with rattrapante mechanisms include multiple other complications as well.
The Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante is also the thinnest (12mm, about the same height as a current-gen Rolex Daytona) of those models, and in the titanium configuration, it's easily the lightest.
As part of the LineSport collection, the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante does not look like the typical Journe timepiece. The case design is aggressive and wide (44mm diameter), and rubber inserts are placed on the caseband, crown, and bracelet to increase shock resistance. There’s also a thin bezel with a ceramic insert and tachymeter scale present.
The manual-wind, monopusher caliber 1518 is the main event. You can easily identify perlage on the baseplate, polished screw heads with chamfered slots, circular stripes on the bridges, and straight-graining.
The movement is surprisingly wide at 33.60 mm in diameter, fitting snugly inside the 44mm case, as well as allowing for plenty of extra breathing space for the 285 total components and an impressive thinness of 6.8mm. Given the extra-slim movement height, the levers, bridges, and plates are all especially flat with a miniscule amount of tolerance and space between each layer. The big date mechanism is a surprising inclusion, given the two separate date wheels required to show the large display likely take up significant room inside the movement.
Another benefit of the large diameter is the application of a large mainspring, enabling an impressive running autonomy of 80 hours, in addition to powering the chronograph and split-seconds mechanism. Fun fact: you can reach the full power reserve of the caliber 1518 with just 38 turns of the crown. The balance wheel, meanwhile, is also on the large side and features a variable inertia, free-sprung design that beats at 3 Hz and offers fine adjustment capabilities and a high degree of shock resistance.
Two separate column wheels are employed to control the stop-start-split-reset of the chronograph mechanism, an arrangement that is typical of split-seconds chronographs. The column wheels each have six trapezoidal pillars and are on the small side, which makes the precision machining and finishing process involved in their creation even more difficult. The chronograph itself is a monopusher design, with the stop-start-reset function entirely controlled by the pusher at two o’clock on the caseband, while the split function can be actuated through the four o’clock pusher.
The chronograph starts, stops, and splits with excellent precision and zero shuttering action, partially thanks to the use of an oscillating pinion that remains in constant contact with the gear train, rather than a lateral clutch. Visible in the very center of the movement, the design of the split-seconds mechanism is not out of the ordinary. Engaging the four o’clock pusher triggers the secondary column wheel, pushing in the rattrapante clamps that grab and pause the spinning rattrapante wheel. As soon as the clamps have closed on the wheel, the seconds split on the dial side, with one hand pausing in its tracks and the other continuing its journey around the dial.
One element that some collectors might notice is missing in the rattrapante mechanism is an isolating device that would reduce the friction that builds up when the split-seconds wheel has been stopped, by momentarily disengaging the split-seconds wheel from the primary chronograph wheel and cam. It’s a common feature in high-end contemporary split-seconds chronographs, although many other models, including the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante, do not include it. The main drawback of an isolating mechanism is that it adds thickness to the movement, which is likely why Journe opted to proceed without it. Instead, Journe included a jewel roller on the rattrapante lever that touches the heart-shaped cam, reducing the total resistance felt between the two wheels when the rattrapante is engaged.
The caliber 1518 is an evolution of the movement Journe used in his initial Only Watch unique piece. The original movement was the caliber 1517, featuring horizontal chronograph coupling rather than the oscillating pinion approach found in the production models. The chronograph levers had to be redesigned from the caliber 1517 to the caliber 1518 to better function with the oscillating pinion. Many of the bridges were also slightly adjusted in their shape, size, and position, and as the big date complication was added, the crown wheel had to increase in size to incorporate a setting mechanism.
The caliber 1518 could then, interestingly enough, be considered an improved variant of the caliber 1517. Outside the quality of the decoration on the original movement, which involved extensive black polishing on the levers and springs, the caliber 1518 is both more complicated and the action of the chronograph has been improved. It’s the rare occasion where a production watch is an actual upgrade from the ultra-rare unique piece example.
The F.P. Journe Line Sport Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante is full of surprises. It doesn’t look like many other split-seconds chronographs out there; in fact, it barely looks like a typical F.P. Journe creation at all. But there’s still a lot to appreciate about it, from the unconventional materials to the impressive technical attributes and high degree of wearability. It’s a rattrapante that can handle the bumps and bruises of daily life without a sweat.
It also presents a relatively excellent value for both a high-end split-seconds chronograph and a complicated F.P. Journe watch. The pink gold example pictured here is currently available from Phillips PERPETUAL and is priced at £95,000. It comes with its original F.P. Journe Box and certificate. You’ll easily push past the six-figure mark for any comparable split-seconds chronograph from Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, or Vacheron Constantin.
As for the long-term trajectory of the model, it’s been reported that F.P. Journe has no plans to extend the caliber 1518 to any other collection in the future, so it looks like the Line Sport family will be the only place to experience his take on one of watchmaking’s most desirable complications for the time being.
The same question of what watch you think of first could be asked of Journe’s fellow Geneva-based independent watchmaker, Czapek & Cie.
The brand spent the first few years after its 2014 revival focused on dressier pieces such as those in the Quai des Bergues and Place Vendôme collections, but it changed directions with the launch of the sporty and complicated Antarctique Rattrapante in 2021.
The new watch was touted as the first-ever chronograph to showcase a split-seconds mechanism prominently displayed on the dial side.
According to Czapek, the inspiration for this project traces back to the brand’s revival in the early 2010s. During the re-registration of the Czapek name, the company launched a limited-edition chronograph using a small batch of vintage Valjoux 7733 movements. One of the brand’s early supporters noted how captivating it was to see the pivoting cams in action—a comment that helped shape the brand’s future vision.
Over time, and in collaboration with Chronode, the manufacturing partner led by independent watchmaking star Jean-François Mojon, the concept of integrating a split-seconds module directly onto the dial took form. This design allows the clamp, column wheels, horizontal clutch, and levers to be fully visible. Powered by a proprietary caliber developed by Chronode, the movement includes several patented features, such as the satellite minute train and the split-seconds mechanism.
The self-winding caliber SHX6 boasts an impressive spec sheet that extends well beyond the split-seconds mechanism, which naturally commands attention. Operating at 4 Hz, the movement runs on 49 jewels and delivers a 60-hour power reserve, thanks to a single barrel wound by a 5N recycled rose gold oscillating weight. Viewed through the sapphire crystal exhibition caseback, the SHX6 features an understated, streamlined finish with matte bead-blasted bridges accented by hand-polished chamfers, circular satin-finished wheels, and black-polished screws. From this angle, you’d hardly suspect the complexity hidden on the dial side.
Of course, what truly sets the Antarctique Rattrapante apart is the exposed split-seconds complication. Czapek has brought the typically esoteric realm of high-end watchmaking into plain view, showcasing the intricate workings of one of horology’s most revered complications. For owners of conventional rattrapante chronographs, the split-seconds mechanism often remains a theoretical concept. Here, it is fully revealed, offering a rare, tangible glimpse into its ingenious functionality.
One of only 25 pieces made sporting this rich rose gold finish on the sub-dials and minute track, the pictured 'Gold Dust' edition of the Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante is available now from Phillips PERPETUAL for £31,900. It's in superb condition, with its original winding box, instructions, and warranty. It also comes with an additional rubber strap, quick-change tool, and screwdriver for adjustment.
You can learn more about the above models and view all the currently in-stock watches online at Phillips PERPETUAL.
Phillips PERPETUAL offers a boutique experience to clients for both the sale and purchase of fine and rare watches, in London’s Berkeley Square and the Gstaad Palace, in Switzerland.
About Logan Baker
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He splits his time between New York and Geneva.
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