F.P. Journe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XV Geneva Saturday, May 7, 2022 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: F.P. Journe
    Year: 2003
    Case No: 014-04Q
    Model Name: Octa Calendrier "Souscription"
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300, 19 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    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 fitted box, Warranty dated 28 November 2003, polishing cloth, user manual and outer packaging and Authenticity Certificate confirming the watch is part of the first 20 Souscription pieces
    Provenance: Collection of Lorenz Baumer
    Literature: F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit by Jean-Pierre Grosz is dedicated to Journe and his oeuvre.

  • Provenance

    Collection of Lorenz Baumer

  • Catalogue Essay

    Among watch enthusiasts it is by now common knowledge that the first F.P. Journe models ever made - the Résonance and the Tourbillon - were sold as subscription pieces in advance of their production in order to gather the funds to make them. Collectors are however less aware that a similar beginning was reserved to the Octa Calendrier model.

    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 but all having the same movement size – a feat of ingenuity in itself.

    The Octa Calendrier was the world’s first wristwatch with annual calendar (meaning the date will need to be set only once a year in February), large date and a power reserve of over 120 hours, with all indications set via the crown doing without the extra pushers found on the case side in similar watches. This model was awarded the ‘Special Jury Prize’ at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2002.

    Intriguingly, the first 20 cases of the Octa models (Reserve de Marche, Calendrier and Chronographe) were reserved for the original buyers of the 20 sousciption Tourbillon models. The present Calendrier N°14 is part of the original “Souscription” pieces (coming from the collection of Lorenz Baumer – see lot 49 Chronometre à Resonance n°14 and lot 101 Tourbillon n° 14 from Geneva June 27-28, 2020).

    The present example in pink gold with supremely attractive pink dial is to the best of our research the only piece in the “Souscription” series to be made in pink gold making it one of the most collectible pieces of the series.

  • Artist Biography

    F.P. Journe

    Swiss • 1999

    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.

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298

An exceedingly rare pink gold annual calendar automatic wristwatch with retrograde date, warranty and presentation box, number 14 of a 20 piece subscription series

2003
38mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF70,000 - 140,000 
€68,800-138,000
$74,300-149,000

Sold for CHF504,000

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 22 317 81 81
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 22 317 96 63
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XV

Geneva Auction 7 - 8 May 2022