SIGNED F.P. JOURNE, OCTA SPORT MODEL, NO. 203-ARS, CIRCA 2014

The Octa lineSport range was created with both the cases and movements entirely made of aluminium with the aim of offering ultra-lightweight timepieces able to withstand athletic lifestyles. Following the release of the highly innovative Centigraphe Sport in June 2011, the first mechanical wristwatch ever in Aluminium, F.P. Journe launched this second model of the Octa Sport ‘lineSport’ in the same year, manufactured from high technology Aluminium alloy used in the aeronautical industry, it was in production until 2014. Even the movement itself is made from aluminium so that it is overall extremely lightweight, weighing only 53 grams. A huge technical triumph, the Octa Sport aluminium movement was only used in the ‘lineSport’ range and features the same horological excellence found in all of F.P. Journe’s Octa calibers. The rotor is made of Titanium with the addition of a tungsten segment to increase the winding speed.

The use of Aluminium alloy raised several challenges in order to perfect manufacturing methods so that the Aluminium is scratch resistant, anti-corrosive and anti-allergic. Due to the immense practical difficulties of working with the ultra-lightweight material, F.P. Journe has stated that no future wristwatch models will be made in aluminium, existing models such as the present watch are now highly sought after and truly unrepeatable. During the manufacture of each aluminium watch it is thought that up to an incredible 60% of the parts had to be discarded. This was due to the difficulty in both replicating the shape of the components and the anodizing process not producing consistent colours.