The origin of the F.P Journe Chronomètre Holland & Holland came from an incredible discovery of two museum gun barrels that dates over 100 years back in the hand registered archive of the century-old British gunmaker Holland & Holland. Both manufacture known for exquisite craftsmanship and exceptional beauty, the possibility became apparent and sparked the idea of creating a unique watch series with a powerful reference to ancient traditions. Barrel No. 1382 from 1868 yielded 38 dials (Lot 13 in Phillips Geneva XIV Auction) and Barrel No. 7183 dating to 1882 produced 28 dials, resulting a total of only 66 watches to be produced.

The beauty manifest on the hypnotic brown dial, each uniquely patterned in Damacus steel from the barrels. In order to produce the dials, the gun barrels were first cut along their entire length at the Holland & Holland factory, and rolled out to form flat strips. They were then cut and polished into smaller and thinner portions. Followed by a dial cutting process by F.P Journe’s own dial makers “Les Cardraniers de Genève", and a browning treatment by Holland & Holland using a traditional gun-making technique that highlights the wonderful patterns same way as it was made in the late 1800s.

An exquisite story with mesmerising results, the Chronomètre Holland & Holland cased in 39mm steel is fitted with the 18K pink gold movement cal. 1304 with an additional Holland & Holland engraving along the contours of the barrels. Each movement references the barrel number from white the dial was born and then the edition number, the present example numbered 7183-28/28 is the very last timepiece to be made with gun barrel No. 7183. Offered by the original owner, the present example is fresh-to-the-market and accompanied by its original certificate and accesorries.