Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2003 Case No: 001-03A Model Name: Octa Réserve de Marche Material: Platinum Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300, 32 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F.P. Journe pin buckle Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe Authenticity Certificate, Service Invoice from January 2021 and travel pouch. Literature: F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit by Jean-Pierre Grosz is dedicated to Journe and his oeuvre.
Catalogue Essay
The present Octa Réserve de Marche is number 1 out of 20 of the Subscription series.
Even though Journe no longer used the prepayment subscription method for this model, he offered a right of first refusal to the owners of his first watches. The consignor of the present watch having been Journe’s first client for his Tourbillon Souscription, he therefore received the present Octa Réserve de Marche with matching case number 1.
The Octa Réserve de Marche was Journe’s third creation under his brand name after the Tourbillon and the Chronomètre à Résonance. It was also his first automatic watch, a piece that would be a foundation for a whole new collection to come.
An adversary of modular complication, 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. Caliber 1300 was born measuring 30mm in diameter and 5.5 thickness.
The Octa Réserve de Marche features all of the Journe signature elements that collectors have come to love, a gold dial with offset time indication on the right, a power reserve indicator covering a large part of the left section of the dial and a large date. Highly legible and balanced, the design aesthetic is pure F. P. Journe.
It is interesting to note that even though the Octa Réserve de Marche was launched in 2001, the present model bearing number 1 was made in 2003. This can be explained from the fact that when Journe introduced the subsequent models after the Tourbillon (Résonance, Octa Réserve de Marche, Octa Chronograph and Octa Calendrier) the first 20 case numbers were reserved as a “Subscription” piece for those having ordered the previous watches and who would get the matching case number. These pieces were, however, made at a later date.
Fresh to the auction market and from the original owner, the present watch is in excellent condition and serviced by F.P. Journe in January 2021.
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.
A rare and attractive platinum wristwatch with eccentric time display, large date aperture, power reserve number 1 of a 20 pieces subscription series, with Authenticity Certificate
2003 38mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
