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.
PROPERTY OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER
