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Lot Essay
Journe Octa Lune Brass Movement
This rare and highly sought after F.P. Journe Octa Lune is one of the early examples of a Journe watch made between 2001 and 2004 featuring a rhodium plated brass movement. Starting in 2004, F.P. Journe’s movements were made from 18k solid gold, a practice that has continued to the present day. As collectors focus more and more upon the genius of F.P. Journe’s timepieces, it has been recognized that watches with the early brass movements, such as the present Octa Lune, are important milestones in the brand’s history, consequently they have become highly prized rarities by serious collectors. It is thought that only around 2000 watches with brass movements were ever produced across all models of Journe timepieces.
The Octa Lune model won one of the most prestigious awards in the watch industry, the ‘Favourite Men’s Watch’ award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2003. The name ‘Octa’ was given as a prefix to all F.P. Journe’s automatic watches because in Latin it means ‘eight’ and the figure ‘8’ on its side signifies the concept of limitlessness or infinity.
The design of the Octa Lune dial is asymmetric yet entirely harmonious, it displays several complications without any sense of overcrowding. It is housed in a 38 mm platinum case which is no longer produced today being subsequently replaced by the 40mm and 42 mm size cases. The gold dial plate is beautifully matte with a separate silvered hours and minutes dial with engine turned centre secured by screws. The power reserve indicator sector of 120 hours with a large date above the moon phases with the inscription ‘Phases de Lune’ inscribed below. F.P. Journe’s signature and the Latin inscription ‘Invenit et Fecit’ (invented and made) runs along the upper edge. The blued steel hands are unmistakably and uniquely F.P. Journe. With 32 jewels, Journe’s caliber 1300 rhodium plated brass ‘Exclusive Power Reserve System’ movement has an off-centre 22 carat gold rotor. It was the first automatic movement to provide 120 hours of power reserve.
Becoming harder to find as collectors actively pursue examples of F.P. Journe’s early production, the present Octa Lune would be a prize for any collection of modern horological masterpieces.
This rare and highly sought after F.P. Journe Octa Lune is one of the early examples of a Journe watch made between 2001 and 2004 featuring a rhodium plated brass movement. Starting in 2004, F.P. Journe’s movements were made from 18k solid gold, a practice that has continued to the present day. As collectors focus more and more upon the genius of F.P. Journe’s timepieces, it has been recognized that watches with the early brass movements, such as the present Octa Lune, are important milestones in the brand’s history, consequently they have become highly prized rarities by serious collectors. It is thought that only around 2000 watches with brass movements were ever produced across all models of Journe timepieces.
The Octa Lune model won one of the most prestigious awards in the watch industry, the ‘Favourite Men’s Watch’ award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2003. The name ‘Octa’ was given as a prefix to all F.P. Journe’s automatic watches because in Latin it means ‘eight’ and the figure ‘8’ on its side signifies the concept of limitlessness or infinity.
The design of the Octa Lune dial is asymmetric yet entirely harmonious, it displays several complications without any sense of overcrowding. It is housed in a 38 mm platinum case which is no longer produced today being subsequently replaced by the 40mm and 42 mm size cases. The gold dial plate is beautifully matte with a separate silvered hours and minutes dial with engine turned centre secured by screws. The power reserve indicator sector of 120 hours with a large date above the moon phases with the inscription ‘Phases de Lune’ inscribed below. F.P. Journe’s signature and the Latin inscription ‘Invenit et Fecit’ (invented and made) runs along the upper edge. The blued steel hands are unmistakably and uniquely F.P. Journe. With 32 jewels, Journe’s caliber 1300 rhodium plated brass ‘Exclusive Power Reserve System’ movement has an off-centre 22 carat gold rotor. It was the first automatic movement to provide 120 hours of power reserve.
Becoming harder to find as collectors actively pursue examples of F.P. Journe’s early production, the present Octa Lune would be a prize for any collection of modern horological masterpieces.