10Σ︎
F.P. Journe
Chronomètre à Résonance “Souscription, No. 007”
An extraordinary, important, and extremely rare limited edition pink gold and platinum dual time wristwatch with resonating escapements, pink gold dial, and presentation box, number 7 of a 20 piece subscription series
Estimate
In excess of $1,000,000
Live June 13, 10:00 AM ET
Manufacturer
F.P. Journe
Year
Circa 2000, Switzerland
Case No
007/00R
Model Name
Chronomètre à Résonance “Souscription, No. 007”
Material
Platinum, 18K pink gold
Calibre
Manual, cal. 1499, 36 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle
18K pink gold F.P. Journe pin buckle
Dimensions
38mm Diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
Accessories
Accompanied by F.P. Journe 3-part burlwood presentation case, outer box, additional F.P. Journe exotic strap, and F.P. Journe service transit box.
Full-Cataloguing
GOOD TO KNOW
• One of only 2 Souscription examples with platinum/pink gold case and pink
gold dial
• Fresh-to-the-auction-market
When François-Paul Journe unveiled the Chronomètre à Résonance in 2000, it was far more than a technical innovation — it was a philosophical manifesto. Drawing inspiration from the 18th-century horological experiments of Antide Janvier and Abraham-Louis Breguet, Journe succeeded where none of his contemporaries had: creating a wristwatch with two independent oscillators beating in sympathetic resonance, naturally regulating each other to achieve greater chronometric stability.
Going back in time one year to 1999, Journe had decided to launch his eponymous brand with the Tourbillon Souverain, but was faced with the challenge of how to create these wristwatches. Taking a page from the book of Breguet, he instituted a “Souscription” program, whereby a few trusted clients would make a down payment for a watch that had not been made in exchange for a discount on the retail price. This would allow Journe to finance his workshops, tools, and components. Twenty were made, each numbered on the dial, and delivered in 1999. When the Résonance debuted the following year, Journe reserved the first 20 case numbers for those clients who had purchased a Souscription Tourbillon, even though some Résonances had already started being manufactured and delivered.
The souscription examples of the Chronomètre à Résonance feature the following characteristics:
Numbered 001 – 020, the Souscription watches, such as the present lot, were first offered to the twenty clients who had subscribed to Journe’s inaugural Tourbillon Souverain, their purchases effectively financing the birth of his manufacture. Bearing the suffix /00R for the production year 2000, these watches were not necessarily delivered sequentially, though many collectors ordered matching Tourbillon and Résonance pairs.
These souscription Résonances were made in platinum or two-tone 18K pink gold and platinum cases. The platinum cases were fitted with white, pink, or yellow gold dials, whereas the two-tone cases were fitted with either white or pink dials. Research shows that only five Résonance Souscription pieces were made in a platinum and pink gold case—three with a white gold dial and two with a pink gold dial, like the present example. The present watch is the first pink gold dial, two-tone case Souscription Résonance to appear publicly. In fact, it is the only example with pink gold dial able to be obtained, with the second example believed to be owned by François-Paul Journe himself.
More than a technical achievement, the Résonance represents the very soul of François-Paul Journe’s pursuit of absolute precision and mechanical poetry. Number 007 Souscription Résonance is the physical manifestation of this ethos, and Phillips is honored to present this “ultimate” Journe trophy watch to the market for the first time since its creation.
• One of only 2 Souscription examples with platinum/pink gold case and pink
gold dial
• Fresh-to-the-auction-market
When François-Paul Journe unveiled the Chronomètre à Résonance in 2000, it was far more than a technical innovation — it was a philosophical manifesto. Drawing inspiration from the 18th-century horological experiments of Antide Janvier and Abraham-Louis Breguet, Journe succeeded where none of his contemporaries had: creating a wristwatch with two independent oscillators beating in sympathetic resonance, naturally regulating each other to achieve greater chronometric stability.
Going back in time one year to 1999, Journe had decided to launch his eponymous brand with the Tourbillon Souverain, but was faced with the challenge of how to create these wristwatches. Taking a page from the book of Breguet, he instituted a “Souscription” program, whereby a few trusted clients would make a down payment for a watch that had not been made in exchange for a discount on the retail price. This would allow Journe to finance his workshops, tools, and components. Twenty were made, each numbered on the dial, and delivered in 1999. When the Résonance debuted the following year, Journe reserved the first 20 case numbers for those clients who had purchased a Souscription Tourbillon, even though some Résonances had already started being manufactured and delivered.
The souscription examples of the Chronomètre à Résonance feature the following characteristics:
Numbered 001 – 020, the Souscription watches, such as the present lot, were first offered to the twenty clients who had subscribed to Journe’s inaugural Tourbillon Souverain, their purchases effectively financing the birth of his manufacture. Bearing the suffix /00R for the production year 2000, these watches were not necessarily delivered sequentially, though many collectors ordered matching Tourbillon and Résonance pairs.
These souscription Résonances were made in platinum or two-tone 18K pink gold and platinum cases. The platinum cases were fitted with white, pink, or yellow gold dials, whereas the two-tone cases were fitted with either white or pink dials. Research shows that only five Résonance Souscription pieces were made in a platinum and pink gold case—three with a white gold dial and two with a pink gold dial, like the present example. The present watch is the first pink gold dial, two-tone case Souscription Résonance to appear publicly. In fact, it is the only example with pink gold dial able to be obtained, with the second example believed to be owned by François-Paul Journe himself.
More than a technical achievement, the Résonance represents the very soul of François-Paul Journe’s pursuit of absolute precision and mechanical poetry. Number 007 Souscription Résonance is the physical manifestation of this ethos, and Phillips is honored to present this “ultimate” Journe trophy watch to the market for the first time since its creation.
F.P. Journe
Swiss | 1999Founded 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.