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Lot Essay
The present limited edition Ruthenium Octa Calendrier is number 80 of only 99 pieces made between 2003 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.
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 Octa Calendrier was François-Paul Journe’s first annual calendar wristwatch and the third complication to be integrated into the Octa automatic calibre series. The integration of an annual retrograde calendar while maintaining the dimensions of the movement was another significant horological achievement. As was the system whereby all the indications are set via the crown, without the need for extra pushers on the case band. The instantaneously advancing day and month display is self-adjusting for months with 28, 30 and 31 days, only requiring manual adjustment at the end of February only during the non-leap years. With its unique date disc with retrograde indication and a power reserve of 120 hours, there was nothing quite like the Octa Calendrier when it first appeared on the market. Shortly after its official launch, the Octa Calendrier watch won the Special Jury’s Award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2002.
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.
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 Octa Calendrier was François-Paul Journe’s first annual calendar wristwatch and the third complication to be integrated into the Octa automatic calibre series. The integration of an annual retrograde calendar while maintaining the dimensions of the movement was another significant horological achievement. As was the system whereby all the indications are set via the crown, without the need for extra pushers on the case band. The instantaneously advancing day and month display is self-adjusting for months with 28, 30 and 31 days, only requiring manual adjustment at the end of February only during the non-leap years. With its unique date disc with retrograde indication and a power reserve of 120 hours, there was nothing quite like the Octa Calendrier when it first appeared on the market. Shortly after its official launch, the Octa Calendrier watch won the Special Jury’s Award at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2002.
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.