In the realm of Francois Paul Journe, the formative years of late 1990s early 2000s laid the foundation for the fascinating early creations \u2014 true “DNA\u201d pieces from the master watchmaker. For the discerning collector, these are the ultimate prizes\u2014relics from a time when Journe was still a burgeoning independent artisan.
\nTheir extreme rarity has caused values to soar, as only a handful of these foundational watches ever exchange hands publicly.<\/p>\n
The present Octa R\u00e9serve de Marche marks the true beginning of the FPJourne\u2019s automatic era. Launched in 2001, it was conceived with a radical technical premise: every future complication would share the same base calibre thickness, regardless of added functions. At its debut, it delivered an extraordinary 120-hour power reserve\u2014a full five days\u2014without increasing the case dimensions.<\/p>\n
This present example is a rare Pre\u2011Souscription piece from the model\u2019s 2001 inaugural year, interestingly the Souscription pieces’ 20 first case numbers were reserved by Mr Journe and produced only two years later in 2003, which makes our timepiece particularly special and perhaps even more collectible.<\/p>\n
Encased in a 38mm platinum case with gently curved lugs and signature cercle d\u2019argent aesthetic frame a shimmery champagne-grey dial arranged with Journe\u2019s unmistakable architectural balance. A large twin\u2011aperture date sits at 12 o\u2019clock, while the sweeping power reserve indicator to the left balances the off\u2011centered guilloch\u00e9 time display at 3 o\u2019clock and silver seconds sub-dial. The inscription \u201cInvenit et Fecit\u201d is not a slogan but a philosophy.<\/p>\n
On the inside beats the self-winding Calibre 1300 made in brass which were only produced until 2004 then Journe shifted to 18k rose gold movements, another notable detail is that its finished with the rare straight-line C\u00f4tes de Gen\u00e8ve decoration specific to the brand’s very first years since the Souscription models came with circular C\u00f4tes de Gen\u00e8ve. Every corner of every component is finished to an exemplary standard, with a very efficient 22k gold rotor ensuring that this piece of history remains as chronometrically precise as it is aesthetically peerless. A direct link to the birth of modern independent haute horlogerie.<\/p>\n
Our timepiece comes with its original warranty card and wooden presentation box – viewing possible by appointment<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
F.P. Journe – Bio<\/strong><\/p>\n Fran\u00e7ois-Paul Journe was born in Marseille in 1959. An unruly child, he was sent to a local technical college at the age of 14. He went on to graduate from the Paris watchmaking school in 1976.
\nIn 1982, after five years of work, he finished his tourbillon \u2013 and it work !
\nHe founded the F.P. Journe company in 1999, have ever since stunned the world year after year with the visually distinctive and technically innovative watches
\nThe motto of the brand, Invenit et Fecit (Latin for \u201c[He] invented it and made it\u201d) denotes that the company builds the entirety of the watches. Journe often designs brand new movements, even inventing completely new systems, like the famous resonance chronometer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n