Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: Circa 2002 Case No: No. 230-02R Model Name: Chronomètre à Résonance Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 1499, 36 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile 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 warranty card dated March 11th, 2006, instruction manual, polishing cloth, purchase receipt, fitted presentation box, and outer box.
Catalogue Essay
The first generation Chronomètre à Resonance featured a 38mm diameter case with brass movement and was inspired by the work of the great 18th century watchmaker, Antide Janvier. In 1983, Journe sought to emulate the legendary Janvier by creating a pocket-watch using the resonance phenomenon, and 16 years later, he introduced his now-iconic Chronomètre á Résonance wristwatch. It was the world’s first wristwatch to use the resonance phenomenon, whereby the movement is composed of two independent balances, alternatively serving as an “exciter” and “resonator”. When in motion, the balances create the resonance effect and beat in opposition, naturally evening out each other’s discrepancies and thus permitting greater accuracy. Not only a wonderful tribute to technical watchmaking, the Chronomètre à Résonance can also be used as a dual time watch. In production from 2000 to 2005, the first generation Chronomètre á Résonance (reference R), like the present lot, features a rhodium-plated brass movement and a 38mm diameter case. The second generation (reference RN) would introduce rose gold movements to replace brass and housed predominantly in larger 40mm cases.
According to reliable sources, between 70-80% of the production of -02 Resonances were cased in platinum, making a pink gold-cased -02 R exceptionally rare. Even rarer is the combination of a pink gold case with white gold dial. In the past two decades, less than 30 pieces have appeared publicly, with the majority in platinum with white gold or yellow gold dials. Only four examples, of which the present lot is the fourth, in a pink gold case with white gold dial, have appeared publicly in the past two decades.
The present lot offers the rare opportunity of obtaining a historically important timepiece that has become one of the most important horological breakthroughs of the past decades. It remains accompanied with its original guarantee card, instruction manual, and presentation box, consigned by the original owner, a scion of independent watch collecting. No. 232-02R is fresh to the market and complete with all of its original accessories.
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.
