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Lot Essay
The present limited edition Ruthenium Jour / Nuit is number 49 of only 99 pieces made between 2002 and 2005. This special series in platinum was produced at the end of the period when F.P. Journe was using brass movements. From 2004 onwards, Journe’s movements have famously been made from 18k gold. With the tremendous and continually growing interest in François-Paul Journe’s work, collectors have focused their attention on the early production and pre-production watches with brass movements. Consequently these watches which are an important part of F.P. Journe history have become extremely sought after and very difficult to obtain.
Superbly preserved, the present watch is accompanied by its original large-size paper Certificate which confirms the 40 mm. platinum case, ruthenium covered movement and 18k gold ruthenium covered dial. F.P. Journe’s Octa Jour / Nuit was, interestingly, only ever available as part of the Ruthenium Collection. The model was never made in normal production and therefore it is one of the most elusive and sought-after of Journe wristwatches.
The Ruthenium Collection
Regarded as one of F.P. Journe’s most legendary and visually compelling, the collection comprises five different models, all produced during the final phase of the brass movement era. The Ruthenium Collection consists of: the Chronomètre à Résonance; Tourbillon Souverain; Octa Calendrier; Octa Chronographe and the Octa Jour / Nuit (a model that was only produced as part of the Ruthenium Collection). For the first time in any of Journe’s watches, the dials and movements of these timepieces were coated with ruthenium, an unusual metal that is part of the platinum family and has notable anti-corrosion properties. However, it was chosen largely due to its wonderfully subtle depth of colour and distinctive sheen which seems to change in tone depending on the play and strength of light. Each model has a 40 mm. diameter platinum case and was made in a limited edition of 99 pieces. In fact, the watches of the Ruthenium Collection are the only Journe watches with brass movements to have 40 mm. diameter cases, as opposed to the 38 mm. cases of other Journe brass movement watches of the period.
Superbly preserved, the present watch is accompanied by its original large-size paper Certificate which confirms the 40 mm. platinum case, ruthenium covered movement and 18k gold ruthenium covered dial. F.P. Journe’s Octa Jour / Nuit was, interestingly, only ever available as part of the Ruthenium Collection. The model was never made in normal production and therefore it is one of the most elusive and sought-after of Journe wristwatches.
The Ruthenium Collection
Regarded as one of F.P. Journe’s most legendary and visually compelling, the collection comprises five different models, all produced during the final phase of the brass movement era. The Ruthenium Collection consists of: the Chronomètre à Résonance; Tourbillon Souverain; Octa Calendrier; Octa Chronographe and the Octa Jour / Nuit (a model that was only produced as part of the Ruthenium Collection). For the first time in any of Journe’s watches, the dials and movements of these timepieces were coated with ruthenium, an unusual metal that is part of the platinum family and has notable anti-corrosion properties. However, it was chosen largely due to its wonderfully subtle depth of colour and distinctive sheen which seems to change in tone depending on the play and strength of light. Each model has a 40 mm. diameter platinum case and was made in a limited edition of 99 pieces. In fact, the watches of the Ruthenium Collection are the only Journe watches with brass movements to have 40 mm. diameter cases, as opposed to the 38 mm. cases of other Journe brass movement watches of the period.