Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: Circa 2002 Case No: No. 236-02R 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 travel pouch.
Catalogue Essay
In 1983, François-Paul Journe sought to emulate the legendary Antide 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 synchronously beat in opposition, naturally evening out each other’s discrepancies and 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.
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 pink gold dial. Only five examples, of which the present lot is the fifth, in a pink gold case with pink gold dial, have appeared publicly in the past two decades.
The present lot, fresh to the auction market and bearing a richness of pink gold that is particularly sought after by connoisseurs, offers the rare opportunity of obtaining a historically important timepiece that has become one of the most important horological breakthroughs of the past decades.
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.
