Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2004 Case No: 001-03C Model Name: Octa Chronographe 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 confirming the watch is part of the first 20 pieces ordered in subscription and delivered in 2004. Further accompanied by a F.P. Journe travel pouch. Literature: F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit by Jean-Pierre Grosz is dedicated to Journe and his oeuvre.
Catalogue Essay
The Octa Chronographe (in production from 2004 to 2008) is most certainly one of Journe’s greatest designs. Taking his signature offset time indication and adding a chronograph minutes counter giving the dial greater symmetry in his inimitable style.
The present Octa Chronographe 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 this first watches. The consignor of the present watch having been Journe’s first client for his Tourbillon Souscription he therefore received the present Octa Chronographe with matching case number 1.
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.
The Octa Chronographe impresses on many technical elements, an integrated chronograph it is housed in caliber 1300 measuring 30mm in diameter, 5.5 thickness with the chronograph mechanism taking up 1mm! To achieve this, the habitual column wheel was replaced by a cam wheel, meaning it is a profile rim instead of a column that actions the chronograph levers. A single sliding lever returns the chronograph seconds and minutes to zero by disengaging the brakes at the precise moment when it hits the specially profiled reset elements.
The Octa Chronograph was the first automatic fly-back chronometer chronograph with oversized date window.
The extreme attractiveness of this watch with its 38mm case and yellow gold shiny dial is further enhanced by its excellent condition and the fact that it is fresh to the market, from the original owner and bearing number 1.
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 beautiful and very rare platinum fly-back chronograph wristwatch with date number 1 of a 20 pieces subscription series, with Authenticity Certificate
2004 38mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
