F.P. Journe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection Geneva Saturday, May 11, 2024 | Phillips

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the...

Geneva Auction 11 - 12 May 2024

  • Manufacturer: F.P. Journe
    Year: 2000
    Case No: 057/00R
    Model Name: Chronomètre à Resonance "Pre-Souscription"
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 1499, 36 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Alligator
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F.P.Journe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 38mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe fitted box, Certificate of Origin and service invoice dated August 8, 2006.

  • Catalogue Essay

    F.P. Journe’s first wristwatch launched under his newly created brand was the Tourbillon Souverain in 1999 rapidly followed by what was then – and remains- an incredibly cutting edge and innovative timepiece: the Chronomètre à Résonance, the world’s first wristwatch to use the resonance phenomenon. The movement is composed of two independent balances, alternatively serving as an “exciter” and “resonator.” This phenomenon was first documented in horology by French royal clockmaker Antide Janvier in the 18th century in his double pendulum clocks, but it was François-Paul Journe who created the world’s first wristwatch using this phenomenon, officially launching in 2000.

    The earliest F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance examples can be divided into three categories. After the first two years of case production (99R and 00R), the characteristics of the Résonance become more standardized, until the brass movement series is discontinued in its entirety by 2004.

    No. 001 – 020: The Souscription watches. These were first offered to those twenty clients of Journe who purchased his Tourbillon Souverain, funding his brand. They bear the suffix /00R for their production year of 2000. They were not necessarily delivered in that order, contrary to previous schools of thought, but many of the clients who purchased a Souscription Tourbillon also ordered a matching Résonance. They have the deeper engravings to the caseback, as Journe used laser-etching for this series.

    No. 021 – 03X: The Pre-Production watches, with suffix /99R. These were in fact the first approximately 10 Resonances created by Journe and are numbered after the Souscription watches but produced and sometimes delivered before. About 10 examples. With shallow engravings.

    No. 03X – 05X: The Pre-Souscription watches, with suffix /00R, like the present example. Estimated 30-40 examples. These were ordered before the Souscription Resonances and bear the shallow engravings and shiny dials typical of the earliest references R and T.

    The earliest Pre-Souscription Résonances share all the delightful traits of the very first pieces to be manufactured by Journe, with the exception that their cases were ordered in 2000, rather than 1999. One could conclude that the “pre-production” watches, ordered in 1999, were delivered to those who attended the Basel Fair wherein Journe presented his creations to the public for the first time. The Pre-Souscription watches, one can hypothesize, were purchased by the first members of the public to be won over by Journe’s horological merits.

    The present example number 57 is the last example known of the Pre-Souscription series, it features the coveted shallow engravings, shiny gold dial and silvery sub-dials. Interestingly it still features the round screws on the caseback found on the very early examples as opposed to the notched screws found in later Pre-Souscription and regular production models. The present Pre-Souscription number 57 was purchased by the consignor from the original owner in the early 2000s, sent to Journe in 2006 for servicing (where only the movement was serviced – all other original elements remaining as is) and worn only sparingly since.

  • 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.

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Σ60

F.P. Journe

An extremely important and early “pre-souscription” chronometer wristwatch numbered 57/00R with double escapement, power reserve indicator, early "shiny" dial, shallow engravings, certificate of origin and presentation box

2000
38mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF400,000 - 800,000 
€409,000-818,000
$437,000-875,000

Sold for CHF571,500

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

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Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIX featuring the Guido Mondani Collection

Geneva Auction 11 - 12 May 2024