Launched in the beginning of F.P. Journe's career, the Octa Chronographe is one of the manufacture's rarest models. At the time of launch, it was the very first wristwatch chronograph with automatic movement to feature a large date display and a fly-back chronograph with a 120-hour power reserve. At the time of creation, Journe wanted to create a base movement, with a 120 hour power reserve (a world record for a wristwatch at the time) into which could be integrated different complications without modifying the dimensions of the movement.

Impressive looking, the present watch is part of a 99 piece series that F.P. Journe created in 2002 where the movement and dial were coated in ruthenium. At the time, the model was made in a 38 millimeter case. The present model was the first time Journe housed his chronograph in a 40mm diameter case.