211
F.P. Journe
Octa Calendrier
A highly uncommon, enormously charming and extremely collectible platinum automatic annual calendar wristwatch with retrograde date, 38mm case and brass movement.
Estimate
CHF80,000–160,000
€84,800–170,000
$97,900–196,000
Manufacturer
F.P. Journe
Year
2005
Case No
199-05Q
Model Name
Octa Calendrier
Material
Platinum
Calibre
Automatic, cal. 1300, 31 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Leather
Clasp/Buckle
Platinum F.P. Journe pin buckle
Dimensions
38mm case
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Full-Cataloguing
Good to Know:
- Automatic, annual calendar, retrograde date
- Early example with gold dial, brass movement and a 38mm case
- One of the very last specimens made by the brand in this configuration
The Octa line was an incredible feat of engineering. F.P. Journe managed to devise a 120 hours automatic movement onto which a number of different complications could be implemented, without modifying the movement size - a feat made even more remarkable by the restrained dimension of the base calibre: 30.8mm. The project eventually comprised 5 different complications, of which the present Calendrier is the third one to be launched.
This annual calendar piece is defined by its extremely elegant retrograde date track which embraces the left side of the case. The month and day are shown via two discreet windows, and the main dial is off-set to the left, bearing the iconic Journe overlapping seconds dial.
The model was in production from 2003 to 2015, however - as the Journe collector will have immediately noticed - this represents an early variation with brass movement and 38mm case. The company phased out such material in favor of gold movements between 2004 and 2005, and at the same time the case size was increased from 38mm to 40mm. Concomitantly, the dial color scheme was changed from the present gold to the pink and silvered chromaticism which would define the rest of the production. Consequently, the present watch with -05 case is one of the latest Calendrier to leave the atelier in this configuration.
- Automatic, annual calendar, retrograde date
- Early example with gold dial, brass movement and a 38mm case
- One of the very last specimens made by the brand in this configuration
The Octa line was an incredible feat of engineering. F.P. Journe managed to devise a 120 hours automatic movement onto which a number of different complications could be implemented, without modifying the movement size - a feat made even more remarkable by the restrained dimension of the base calibre: 30.8mm. The project eventually comprised 5 different complications, of which the present Calendrier is the third one to be launched.
This annual calendar piece is defined by its extremely elegant retrograde date track which embraces the left side of the case. The month and day are shown via two discreet windows, and the main dial is off-set to the left, bearing the iconic Journe overlapping seconds dial.
The model was in production from 2003 to 2015, however - as the Journe collector will have immediately noticed - this represents an early variation with brass movement and 38mm case. The company phased out such material in favor of gold movements between 2004 and 2005, and at the same time the case size was increased from 38mm to 40mm. Concomitantly, the dial color scheme was changed from the present gold to the pink and silvered chromaticism which would define the rest of the production. Consequently, the present watch with -05 case is one of the latest Calendrier to leave the atelier in this configuration.
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.