1000Σ︎
F.P. Journe
Octa Réserve de Marche, No. 34
A very early and important platinum wristwatch with brass movement, straight Côtes de Genève, white gold dial, small seconds, date, power reserve indication, warranty and presentation box, numbered 034-01A
Estimate
HK$780,000–1,560,000
€85,000–170,000
$100,000–200,000
Live 31 May, 12 PM Hong Kong SAR China Time
Manufacturer
F.P. Journe
Year
Circa 2001
Case No
034-01A
Model Name
Octa Réserve de Marche, No. 34
Material
Platinum
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 1300, 30 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle
Platinum and 18K white gold F.P. Journe deployant clasp
Dimensions
38mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
Accessories
Accompanied by F.P. Journe guarantee card dated 27th June 2001, instruction manual, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know:
• 14th production piece (excluding the 20 Souscription examples)
• Straight Côtes de Genève finishing on the movement
• Incredibly attractive grey sheen on the dial
• Full set with original guarantee card and Journe’s autograph on the box
On the Octa collection, Journe explained: “The creation of the Octa calibre was a real challenge for me, partly in terms of chronometry and timekeeping, but also in terms of respect of day‑to‑day comfort. I thus devised an automatic winding mechanical movement with a large power‑reserve that could incorporate many future complications within the same volume”. The Octa exemplifies Journe’s foresight — an adaptable movement and case designed for longevity and future development — and highlights his technical ambition as much as his commitment to wearability.
The present lot is simply astonishing. It is fitted with an elegant white gold dial — the same configuration as the Octa Réserve de Marche No. 1 — whose ageing has developed into a distinctive silvery sheen, a hallmark of Journe’s early dials that cannot be reproduced and is unique to each example. The caseback reveals further rarities: while the most often seen decoration found on the model is a circular graining, early examples like this one are finished with an ultra‑rare straight Côtes de Genève pattern. Only about 150 pieces were produced with this finishing; its rarity is underscored by the fact that even the Souscription pieces produced in 2003 use circular graining - as in fact the present 2001 piece pre-dates them by about 3 years!
Offered fresh to the auction market, this watch is accompanied by its original guarantee card and a presentation box signed by Mr Journe himself. Aside from the prototype sold in Phillips New York’s 2019 Game Changers sale, our research indicates this numbered “034” example is the 14th production piece (excluding the 20 Souscription examples) and ranks among the earliest Octa Réserve de Marche examples to resurface at international auction. An extremely important, early, and highly collectible example of Journe’s formative work worth of the most discerning collector.
• 14th production piece (excluding the 20 Souscription examples)
• Straight Côtes de Genève finishing on the movement
• Incredibly attractive grey sheen on the dial
• Full set with original guarantee card and Journe’s autograph on the box
On the Octa collection, Journe explained: “The creation of the Octa calibre was a real challenge for me, partly in terms of chronometry and timekeeping, but also in terms of respect of day‑to‑day comfort. I thus devised an automatic winding mechanical movement with a large power‑reserve that could incorporate many future complications within the same volume”. The Octa exemplifies Journe’s foresight — an adaptable movement and case designed for longevity and future development — and highlights his technical ambition as much as his commitment to wearability.
The present lot is simply astonishing. It is fitted with an elegant white gold dial — the same configuration as the Octa Réserve de Marche No. 1 — whose ageing has developed into a distinctive silvery sheen, a hallmark of Journe’s early dials that cannot be reproduced and is unique to each example. The caseback reveals further rarities: while the most often seen decoration found on the model is a circular graining, early examples like this one are finished with an ultra‑rare straight Côtes de Genève pattern. Only about 150 pieces were produced with this finishing; its rarity is underscored by the fact that even the Souscription pieces produced in 2003 use circular graining - as in fact the present 2001 piece pre-dates them by about 3 years!
Offered fresh to the auction market, this watch is accompanied by its original guarantee card and a presentation box signed by Mr Journe himself. Aside from the prototype sold in Phillips New York’s 2019 Game Changers sale, our research indicates this numbered “034” example is the 14th production piece (excluding the 20 Souscription examples) and ranks among the earliest Octa Réserve de Marche examples to resurface at international auction. An extremely important, early, and highly collectible example of Journe’s formative work worth of the most discerning collector.
F.P. Journe
Swiss | 1999Founded 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.