Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2003 Case No: 001-04Q Model Name: Octa Calendrier "Souscription" Material: Platinum Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300, jeweled 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 Certificat d'Authenticite confirming production of the present watch in 2003. Literature: F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit by Jean-Pierre Grosz is dedicated to Journe and his oeuvre.
Catalogue Essay
Among watch enthusiasts of any kind, 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.
Launched in 1999 as an automatic date/time/power reserve model, the Octa case design will eventually evolve into eight separate models (a feat of ingenuity in itself, when one considers the case remains the same), among them the present Octa Calendrier as well as the Octa Réserve de Marche and Octa Chronograph. Intriguingly, the first 20 cases for these 3 models were reserved for the original buyers of the 20 sousciption Tourbillon and Résonance. As openly confirmed by the Certificat d'Authenticité, not only this example is indeed one of those 20 souscription pieces, but furthermore it is the very first one, bearing number 001.
Considered how the model eventually became a cornerstone of F.P. Journe production, one can not overstate the archetypal importance of this timepiece not only for the collectors, but even for the brand itself, as it can be seen as the very first tiny step of a trek to planetary success.
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.
An exceedingly rare and the first one of its kind platinum annual calendar automatic wristwatch with retrograde date, number 1 of a 20 pieces subscription series
2003 38mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
