Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2006 Case No: 9/12 RN Model Name: Chronomètre à Resonance Material: Titanium with pink gold crown Calibre: Manual, cal. 1499.2, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold F.P. Journe deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe fitted box, product literature, invoice and cleaning cloth. Literature: F.P. Journe and the Chronomètre à Resonance are featured in Twelve Faces of Time, Horological Virtuosos by Elisabeth Doerr and Ralf Baumgarten pp. 58-73.
Catalogue Essay
One element that can explain François-Paul Journe’s success is that he manages to miniaturize in wristwatch format some of horology’s greatest achievements. The Chronomètre à Resonance is an example of his great ability to make things smaller.
It was the world’s first wristwatch to use the resonance phenomenon. The movement is composed of two independent balances, alternatively serving as an “exciter” and “resonator”. When in motion, the balances create the resonance effect and beat in opposition, naturally evening out each other’s discrepancies and thus permitting greater accuracy.
Inspired by the work of the great 18th century watchmaker Antide Janvier, Journe took up the challenge in 1983 to first create a pocketwatch using the resonance phenomenon, followed by a wristwatch version 17 years later.
Not only a wonderful tribute to technical watchmaking, the Chronomètre à Resonance is also an extremely useful dual time watch.
The present Chronomètre à Resonance is part of an extremely limited edition of only 12 pieces launched in 2006 in celebration of the second anniversary of Journe’s Tokyo Boutique. It features an array of striking design elements resulting in a spectacular result: titanium case, ruthenium coated dial highlighted by rose gold hands and crown. The final result is nothing short of bombastic.
The present Chronomètre à Resonance is an über rare version of one of the most relevant horological breakthroughs of the past decades and will appeal to the collector of technical contemporary horology.
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.