F.P. Journe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII Geneva Saturday, May 8, 2021 | Phillips

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021

  • Manufacturer: F.P. Journe
    Year: Circa 2020
    Case No: 283-RT
    Model Name: Chronomètre à Resonance
    Material: Platinum
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 1499.3, 40 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F. P. Journe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 40.5mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe Guarantee card stamped by "Montres Journe New York" and "Boutique F.P. Journe Miami" and dated February 7, 2020, USB instruction manual, card holder, wooden presentation box and outer packaging

  • Catalogue Essay

    In 2000, F.P. Journe took the horological world by surprise with the introduction of the first ever wristwatch incorporating two resonating escapements. The concept of resonance as a regulating technique has been sporadically studied and employed throughout watchmaking, but proved intriguing enough to have A.L. Breguet as one of its adept, having indeed realized a chronomètre à resonance which in fact inspired the general movement architecture of F.P. Journe Resonance pieces. Simplistically summarised, the idea behind a resonance timepiece is that two independent escapements placed in close proximity influence and synchronise with one another, the synced system being more resilient to disturbances than a single escapement.

    Resonance timepieces are now a cornerstone of F.P. Journe production, and last year (2020) a new model - incorporating a remontoire d’egalite for each escapement and a single barrel differential system for energy distribution - was released. While the F.P. Journe community welcomed with enthusiasm the new model, hardcore Journe collectors were also saddened to see the “original” Resonance discontinued. In fact, the manufacturer itself recognized the importance of its first model and for the last year of production exclusively, in 2019, a “final” edition - represented by the present piece - was released. The model returned to the original “dual analog dial” design that was featured on the first examples from the early 2000s, before being abandoned in favour of a mixed digital/analog display employing a disc for the left subsidiary dial. While the 2000 design incorporated identical 12-hour subdials, the 2019 design differentiated the two indications: on the left a 24-hour dial (ideal to track the “home time” without incurring in AM/PM uncertainty) and a “local time” standard 12-hour dial on the right, both of them featuring an enormously attractive and subtle blue hue for the graphics.

    Offered in pristine condition and absolutely “full set”, the present piece offers an intriguing detail: the guarantee card is pre-filled (by the factory) with the Journe Miami boutique address, but it is actually stamped by the NY Journey boutique. Most likely, this indicates that while originally intended for the Florida market, the watch was “diverted” at the last second to New York. Given the high demand Resonance pieces are in, one can only speculate about the importance for the brand of a client who managed to have a timepiece redirected to a different boutique than what originally intended so that he could buy it.

  • 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.

    View More Works

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F.P. Journe

An extremely rare, fine and unusual platinum dual-time wristwatch with resonating double escapement, 12 and 24 hours subdials, power reserve, Guarantee card and box

Circa 2020
40.5mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF80,000 - 120,000 
€72,600-109,000
$87,100-131,000

Sold for CHF201,600

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

41 79 637 1724
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XIII

Geneva Auction 8 - 9 May 2021