F.P. Journe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV Geneva Friday, November 5, 2021 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Manufacturer: F.P. Journe
    Year: Circa 2003
    Case No: 95/99-02A
    Model Name: Octa Jour/Nuit, Ruthenium Series
    Material: Platinum, ruthenium-coated brass movement, ruthenium-coated 18K gold dial
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300, 32 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F. P. Journe buckle
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by F. P. Journe Certificat d'Authenticité dated October 12, 2020, service box and travel pouch

  • Catalogue Essay

    Any F. P. Journe enthusiast knows about the superb gold movement the brand creates. Some are also aware that originally (until 2004) the brand employed brass movements instead of gold. Few however are aware of the "ruthenium series".

    When F. P. Journe decided to switch to gold movements, the 99 final pieces of the 5 Journe calibres in production were coated in ruthenium, an element known for its extreme hardness and chemical inertia. The same process was applied to the dials as well, and thus the "Ruthenium Series" were born.

    The 5 watches that are part of the collection, beyond this model, are the Tourbillon Souverain, the Chronomètre à Résonance, the Octa Calendrier and the Octa Chronograph. All these models are ruthenium coated counterparts to their brass piers. The present Octa Réserve de Marche Jour et Nuit model has however a different story to tell. It is the only model from the Ruthenium Series which is unique, without a "standard" brass counterpart. The cal. 1300, which powers it, is also present in the Octa Réserve de Marche, but without the day/night indicator: a detail present exclusively on the Ruthenium Series. It is unknown why Mr. Journe decided to upgrade exclusively cal. 1300, leaving the other 4 untouched. What is certain is that the fact that this is the only F.P. Journe piece which is singular to the Ruthenium Series enormously amplifies the importance and collectability of this watch, which is furthermore the fifth-last one to leave the factory, bearing number 95/99.

  • Artist Biography

    F.P. Journe

    Swiss • 1999

    Founded by watchmaker François-Paul Journe in 1999, the F.P. Journe brand is relatively young, but already is as highly regarded by collectors as many distinguished manufacturers with centuries-old heritage. In the minds of the world's savviest collectors, Journe is producing some of the finest wristwatches the market has ever seen. Mastering his craft from restoring historical timepieces, he was the first to create a wristwatch incorporating two escapements that benefit from the phenomenon of resonance — the Chronomètre à Résonance.

    Key models include the Résonance, tourbillon wristwatches incorporating a remontoir and the limited edition Vagabondage series. Especially sought-after are his earliest "souscription" watches, made in 1999.

    View More Works

219

A highly collectable, scarce and unusual platinum automatic wristwatch with power reserve indication, date, day and night indication, ruthenium-coated dial and movement and certificate of authenticity

Circa 2003
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF30,000 - 50,000 
€28,000-46,700
$32,600-54,400

Sold for CHF226,800

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director
AGhotbi@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV

Geneva Auction 5 & 7 November 2021