Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2014 Case No: 158-UTC Model Name: Octa UTC Material: Platinum Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300.3 Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F.P. Journe pin buckle Dimensions: 40 mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by fitted box, outer packaging, warranty, instruction manual and polishing cloth.
Catalogue Essay
Francois-Paul Journe has never been shy of taking existing complications and modifying them in a way where they become easily usable, understandable but also have the extra technical aspect that make them immediately recognizable as been one of his oeuvres.
The present UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) is the genius watchmakers take on the dual time zone but with a twist.
The blued hours/Minutes hands indicate the local time and are linked to the date indication. The smaller gold hand indicates home time on 24 hours. A globe on the left hand side of the dial is divided into 24 timezones, via the crown the wearer moves the globe so that the home time zone is positioned on 0 for winter time. Simultaneously, the gold hand automatically adjusts itself to the corresponding hour of this region. The purpose of the +1 / -1 indicator is to change the specific region for summer time which is linked to the geographical location of the user depending if its east or west of the chosen zone.
The present watch in platinum is part of the ultra-exclusive and rare “Black Label” edition, available only to pre-existing Journe owners.
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.