For those entrenched in the horological world of the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine an existence without F.P. Journe. François-Paul Journe introduced his first wristwatch, the Tourbillon Souverain, in 1999, and shortly thereafter followed with the revolutionary Chronomètre à Résonance and the Octa Automatique. The Octa began as one watch but with the mindset that Journe was in fact building the base of an entire collection – which indeed happened. Before being discontinued, the Octa Automatique formed the basis of eight separate models, each with different complications.

The present timepiece represents the very beginning of the Octa collection, and sheds some light on the genesis of the model.

While it is by now common knowledge that the first Resonance and the first Tourbillon F.P. Journe timepieces were sold as subscription pieces in advance of their production, in order to gather the funds to make them, collectors are less aware that a similar beginning was reserved for the Octa Calendrier. In fact, the Octa Calendar, Octa Reserve de Marche and Octa Chronograph were sold to the same watch collectors as the ones who had subscribed to the Tourbillion and Resonance

The present piece can then be considered a cornerstone of F.P. Journe production, and the beginning of what will become one of the most successful collections of the brand. Fully documenting its peculiar history, not only the watch comes with a certificate signed by Journe himself but it is accompanied even by the original 2002 letter with which F.P. Journe communicated to the client that his souscription had been registered. A true living fossil and without a doubt one of the most important Octas in existence.