The Octa Chronographe (in production from 2004 to 2008) is most certainly one of Journe’s greatest designs. Taking his signature offset time indication and adding a chronograph minutes counter giving the dial greater symmetry in his inimitable style.

The present Octa Chronographe is number 1 out of 20 of the Subscription series.

Even though Journe no longer used the prepayment subscription method for this model he offered a right of first refusal to the owners of this first watches. The consignor of the present watch having been Journe’s first client for his Tourbillon Souscription he therefore received the present Octa Chronographe with matching case number 1.

An adversary of modular complication, Journe wanted to create a base movement, with a 120 hour power reserve (a world record for a wristwatch at the time) into which could be integrated different complications without modifying the dimensions of the movement.

The Octa Chronographe impresses on many technical elements, an integrated chronograph it is housed in caliber 1300 measuring 30mm in diameter, 5.5 thickness with the chronograph mechanism taking up 1mm! To achieve this, the habitual column wheel was replaced by a cam wheel, meaning it is a profile rim instead of a column that actions the chronograph levers. A single sliding lever returns the chronograph seconds and minutes to zero by disengaging the brakes at the precise moment when it hits the specially profiled reset elements.

The Octa Chronograph was the first automatic fly-back chronometer chronograph with oversized date window.

The extreme attractiveness of this watch with its 38mm case and yellow gold shiny dial is further enhanced by its excellent condition and the fact that it is fresh to the market, from the original owner and bearing number 1.