Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2013 Case No: 462-L Model Name: Octa Lune Automatique Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300.3, 40 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold buckle Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed. Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe Certificate of Authenticity confirming the production of this watch in 2013 and delivery to the United States, instruction manual and CD, polishing cloth, inner presentation box, and outer box.
Catalogue Essay
The Octa Lune was launched in 2003 and won the “Best Men’s Watch” award, in the same year, at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) - the most prestigious award ceremony in the watch industry. The moonphase on the left-hand side of the dial, offers a balance to the offset subdial displaying the hour and minute. If you look carefully, the actual moon aperture is poetically crafted in the shape of a crescent moon itself, rotated 90 degrees horizontally – a classical styling reminiscent of the creations of Breguet.
In 2007, in response to comments from some of his friends, Journe decided to create a new caliber – the 1300.3 – for the Octa to optimize winding, even for those with a very sedentary life, whereby even the slightest movement of the arm would put the rotor in motion and wind the watch.
With an unusual combination of pink gold case and white gold dial, the present lot is a stunning and well-preserved example of a quintessentially Journe model. In 2013, the year this watch was produced, only seven total examples of the Octa Lune were produced, making this an extremely rare opportunity for the contemporary connoisseur.
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.
An extremely rare and desirable pink gold wristwatch with power reserve, moon phase, oversized date display, certificate of authenticity, and presentation box
2013 40mm Diameter Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
