When François-Paul Journe unveiled the Chronomètre à Résonance in 2000, it was far more than a technical innovation — it was a philosophical manifesto. Drawing inspiration from the 18th-century horological experiments of Antide Janvier and Abraham-Louis Breguet, Journe succeeded where none of his contemporaries had: creating a wristwatch with two independent oscillators beating in sympathetic resonance, naturally regulating each other to achieve greater chronometric stability.

The souscription examples of the Chronomètre à Résonance feature the following characteristics:

Numbered 001 – 020, the Souscription watches, such as the present lot, were first offered to the twenty clients who had subscribed to Journe’s inaugural Tourbillon Souverain, their purchases effectively financing the birth of his manufacture. Bearing the suffix /00R for the production year 2000, these watches were not necessarily delivered sequentially, though many collectors ordered matching Tourbillon and Résonance pairs. They feature notably deep, laser-etched caseback engravings, distinguishing them from later executions.

The present example, no. 017/00R, thus stands firmly within the foundational Souscription series — one of the first twenty examples ever made, and among the most historically significant. Elevating its importance and desirability, it is furthermore confirmed to be a true Souscription watch in the accompanying Authenticity Certificate, signed by François-Paul Journe himself, originally ordered in “subscription” and delivered in 2000.

More than a technical achievement, the Résonance represents the very soul of François-Paul Journe’s pursuit of absolute precision and mechanical poetry. Offered in superb condition, stands as a cornerstone of modern independent horology — a piece that bridges the genesis of F.P. Journe with the enduring legacy of the Résonance itself. Amongst the most exciting early Journe watches to appear on the market, the present watch is a must have for the most discerning collector.