Christie's Geneva: The Art of F.P.Journe - 12 May 2023 – Posts

40 timepieces capturing the watchmaking artistry and engineering of F.P.Journe offered for the first time in one auction. A significant thematic sale taking place in Geneva, 12 May.

Geneva, 27 April 2023 – Carefully curated by a single connoisseur over more than twenty years, this exceptional collection retraces the chronology of a ground-breaking independent watchmaker in the History of Haute Horlogerie: F.P.Journe.

Lot 2012 – Tourbillon Souverain ‘Régence Circulaire’ – an exceedingly rare 18K pink gold tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’ égalité with dead beat seconds and hand-engraved white gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. TN, No. 669-TN, circa 2016 (Est. CHF400,000-600,000 | US$440,000-660,000 | €410,000-610,000)

The watchmaker F.P. Journe only founded his namesake business in 1999, making 95 per cent of its own components. It’s this devotion to craftsmanship, coupled with the fact that it creates fewer than 1,000 watches each year, that has made the brand highly sought after, representing the link between the golden age of horological science and contemporary watchmaking.

Lot 2037 – Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and rose gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, NO. 087/01T, circa 2001 (Est. CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

The Art of F.P.Journe live auction on May 12^th at the Hotel des Bergues in Geneva presents a unique opportunity to acquire a timepiece by one of the most important independent watchmakers of our time, each one of the 40 timepieces is exceptional, a testament to Journe’s relentless pursuit of perfection.

Lot 2036 – Chronomètre à Résonance – an extremely rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, power reserve yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. R, No. 204-02R, circa 2002. (Est: CHF250,000-450,000 | US$280,000-490,000 | €260,000-450,000)

“Watchmaking is like a long wall. What I have done is to bring one or two stones to the wall, which is already not bad as there are many others who have never done even that.” (F.P.Journe)

This collection of masterpieces – “portable works of art” – epitomises his ability to interpret and construct watch movements of incredible complexity, often with unique takes on historic complications, within the confines of a wristwatch: Tourbillon à Remontoir d’Egalité, Chronomètre à Résonance, Centigraphe… to name only a few of the most famous.

Tourbillon Souverain

Arguably F.P.Journe’s most famous wristwatch model is the Tourbillon Souverain, launched in 1999, the first ever tourbillon with a remontoir d’égalité. A mechanism delivers a constant force throughout the winding process to compensate for the uneven force delivered by the mainspring to the escapement as it unwinds. The Tourbillon Souverain, showcases F.P. Journe’s technical and design genius in creating a highly complicated wristwatch that is both modern yet firmly anchored in the great horological traditions. François-Paul Journe’s first step onto the world stage as a brand won him the ‘Aiguille d’Or’ prize at the Geneva ‘Grand Prix d’Horlogerie’.

Lot 2039 - Tourbillon Souverain ‘Souscription’ – an especially rare, historic, and highly important platinum tourbillon wristwatch with brass movement, yellow gold dial, remontoir d’égalité and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 2/20, circa 1999 (Est. CHF1,800,000-2,800,000 | US$2,000,000-3,000,000 | €1,900,000-2,800,000)

Lot 2012 – Tourbillon Souverain ‘Régence Circulaire’ – an exceedingly rare 18K pink gold tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’ égalité with dead beat seconds and hand-engraved white gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. TN, No. 669-TN, circa 2016 (Est. CHF400,000-600,000 | US$440,000-660,000 | €410,000-610,000)

Lot 2039 - Tourbillon Souverain ‘Souscription’ – an especially rare, historic, and highly important platinum tourbillon wristwatch with brass movement, yellow gold dial, remontoir d’égalité and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 2/20, circa 1999 (Est. CHF1,800,000-2,800,000 | US$2,000,000-3,000,000 | €1,900,000-2,800,000)

Lot 2012 – Tourbillon Souverain ‘Régence Circulaire’ – an exceedingly rare 18K pink gold tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’ égalité with dead beat seconds and hand-engraved white gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. TN, No. 669-TN, circa 2016 (Est. CHF400,000-600,000 | US$440,000-660,000 | €410,000-610,000)

Lot 2039 - Tourbillon Souverain ‘Souscription’ – an especially rare, historic, and highly important platinum tourbillon wristwatch with brass movement, yellow gold dial, remontoir d’égalité and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 2/20, circa 1999 (Est. CHF1,800,000-2,800,000 | US$2,000,000-3,000,000 | €1,900,000-2,800,000)

Lot 2012 – Tourbillon Souverain ‘Régence Circulaire’ – an exceedingly rare 18K pink gold tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’ égalité with dead beat seconds and hand-engraved white gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. TN, No. 669-TN, circa 2016 (Est. CHF400,000-600,000 | US$440,000-660,000 | €410,000-610,000)

Lot 2035 - Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, No. 228/03T, circa 2003 (Est. CHF280,000-480,000 | US$310,000-520,000 | €290,000-480,000)

Lot 2037 – Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and rose gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, NO. 087/01T, circa 2001 (Est. CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Lot 2035 - Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, No. 228/03T, circa 2003 (Est. CHF280,000-480,000 | US$310,000-520,000 | €290,000-480,000)

Lot 2037 – Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and rose gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, NO. 087/01T, circa 2001 (Est. CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Lot 2035 - Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, No. 228/03T, circa 2003 (Est. CHF280,000-480,000 | US$310,000-520,000 | €290,000-480,000)

Lot 2037 – Tourbillon Souverain 3ème Génération – an extremely rare and early platinum tourbillon wristwatch with power reserve, remontoir d’égalité, brass movement and rose gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. T, NO. 087/01T, circa 2001 (Est. CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Chronomètre à Résonance

Resonance is a natural physical phenomenon, said to have been first discovered by Christiaan Huygens in 1665 when he noticed that two pendulum clocks, hung together on the same beam, would beat together in perfect synchronicity. Almost a century later, it was further experimented on by the great French clockmaker Antide Janvier and the legendary watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, both of whose work F.P.Journe greatly admires. By achieving synchronicity without a physical linkage, resonance considerably reduces the effects of wrist and body movements. Almost two hundred years later, with the development and production of the Chronomètre à Résonance, François-Paul Journe became the first watchmaker to incorporate this tremendous improvement in precision into the smaller available volume of a wristwatch, an incredible achievement of modern horology.

Lot 2038 - Chronomètre à Résonance ‘Pré-Souscription’ – an exceedingly rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, pink gold dial and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 040/00R, circa 2000. (Est: CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Lot 2036 – Chronomètre à Résonance – an extremely rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, power reserve yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. R, No. 204-02R, circa 2002. (Est: CHF250,000-450,000 | US$280,000-490,000 | €260,000-450,000)

Lot 2038 - Chronomètre à Résonance ‘Pré-Souscription’ – an exceedingly rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, pink gold dial and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 040/00R, circa 2000. (Est: CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Lot 2036 – Chronomètre à Résonance – an extremely rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, power reserve yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. R, No. 204-02R, circa 2002. (Est: CHF250,000-450,000 | US$280,000-490,000 | €260,000-450,000)

Lot 2038 - Chronomètre à Résonance ‘Pré-Souscription’ – an exceedingly rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, pink gold dial and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 040/00R, circa 2000. (Est: CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Lot 2036 – Chronomètre à Résonance – an extremely rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, power reserve yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. R, No. 204-02R, circa 2002. (Est: CHF250,000-450,000 | US$280,000-490,000 | €260,000-450,000)

Lot 2038 - Chronomètre à Résonance ‘Pré-Souscription’ – an exceedingly rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, pink gold dial and power reserve. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 040/00R, circa 2000. (Est: CHF500,000-1,000,000 | US$550,000-1,100,000 | €510,000-1,000,000)

Lot 2036 – Chronomètre à Résonance – an extremely rare and early platinum chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train brass movement, power reserve yellow gold dial. Signed F.P. Journe, Ref. R, No. 204-02R, circa 2002. (Est: CHF250,000-450,000 | US$280,000-490,000 | €260,000-450,000)

Lot 2011 - Chronomètre à Résonance – an attractive and sought after 18K pink gold chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train movement and power reserve. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 335-RN, circa 2008. (Est. CHF100,000-200,000 | US$110,000-220,000 | €110,000-200,000)

Lot 2020 – Chronomètre à Résonance 'Steel Set' – a very rare and highly desirable stainless steel limited edition chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train movement and power reserve. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 24/38-RN, circa 2015. (Est. CHF180,000-280,000 | US$200,000-300,000 | €190,000-280,000)

Lot 2011 - Chronomètre à Résonance – an attractive and sought after 18K pink gold chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train movement and power reserve. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 335-RN, circa 2008. (Est. CHF100,000-200,000 | US$110,000-220,000 | €110,000-200,000)

Lot 2020 – Chronomètre à Résonance 'Steel Set' – a very rare and highly desirable stainless steel limited edition chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train movement and power reserve. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 24/38-RN, circa 2015. (Est. CHF180,000-280,000 | US$200,000-300,000 | €190,000-280,000)

Lot 2011 - Chronomètre à Résonance – an attractive and sought after 18K pink gold chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train movement and power reserve. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 335-RN, circa 2008. (Est. CHF100,000-200,000 | US$110,000-220,000 | €110,000-200,000)

Lot 2020 – Chronomètre à Résonance 'Steel Set' – a very rare and highly desirable stainless steel limited edition chronometer wristwatch with resonance-controlled twin independent gear-train movement and power reserve. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 24/38-RN, circa 2015. (Est. CHF180,000-280,000 | US$200,000-300,000 | €190,000-280,000)

Centigraphe

Produced between 2008 and 2017, the Centigraphe was born from the encounter between François-Paul Journe and famous motorsport legend as well as watch connoisseur-collector Jean Todt. The Centigraphe Souverain was developed with the aim of producing the perfect chronograph for the world of automotive racing. Following extensive research on the balance of power in a movement, energy loss, motricity and pushers, François-Paul Journe created an unprecedented chronograph able to measure elapsed time from a 100th of a second up to ten minutes, making it possible in theory to time an object moving at 360,000 km/h, or approximately 1/3000ths of the speed of light. The Centigraphe won F.P.Journe the top prize of the Golden Hand Award at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix for the third time since 2000; the Centigraphe Souverain was recognised as the very first and only of its kind.

Lot 2032 - Centigraphe Souverain ‘Formula Edition’ – an exclusive and highly desirable platinum ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds, 10-minute registers, red chrome dial and platinum bracelet. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 096-CT, circa 2010. (Est. CHF400,000-600,000 | US$440,000-660,000 | €410,000-610,000

Lot 2031 – Centigraphe Souverain ‘Tokyo Boutique’ – a very rare and exclusive titanium and 18k pink gold limited edition ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds and 10-minute registers, made for the 10th anniversary of the Tokyo boutique. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 03/10-CTT Tokyo, circa 2018. (Est. CHF150,000-250,000 | US$170,000-270,000 | €160,000-250,000)

Lot 2032 - Centigraphe Souverain ‘Formula Edition’ – an exclusive and highly desirable platinum ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds, 10-minute registers, red chrome dial and platinum bracelet. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 096-CT, circa 2010.

Lot 2031 – Centigraphe Souverain ‘Tokyo Boutique’ – a very rare and exclusive titanium and 18k pink gold limited edition ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds and 10-minute registers, made for the 10th anniversary of the Tokyo boutique. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 03/10-CTT Tokyo, circa 2018.

Lot 2032 - Centigraphe Souverain ‘Formula Edition’ – an exclusive and highly desirable platinum ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds, 10-minute registers, red chrome dial and platinum bracelet. Signed F.P.Journe, No. 096-CT, circa 2010. (Est. CHF400,000-600,000 | US$440,000-660,000 | €410,000-610,000

Lot 2031 – Centigraphe Souverain ‘Tokyo Boutique’ – a very rare and exclusive titanium and 18k pink gold limited edition ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds and 10-minute registers, made for the 10th anniversary of the Tokyo boutique. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 03/10-CTT Tokyo, circa 2018. (Est. CHF150,000-250,000 | US$170,000-270,000 | €160,000-250,000)

Lot 2017 - Centigraphe Souverain – an attractive 18k pink gold ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds and 10 minute registers. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 432-CT, circa 2016. (Est : CHF80,000-160,000 | US$91,000-180,000 | €82,000-160,000)

Lot 2030 – Centigraphe Sport Aluminium – lightweight and impressive aluminium ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds, 10-minute registers. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 062-CTS, circa 2012. (Est. CHF80,000-160,000 | US$88,000-170,000 | €81,000-160,000)

Lot 2017 - Centigraphe Souverain – an attractive 18k pink gold ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds and 10 minute registers. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 432-CT, circa 2016. (Est : CHF80,000-160,000 | US$91,000-180,000 | €82,000-160,000)

Lot 2030 – Centigraphe Sport Aluminium – lightweight and impressive aluminium ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds, 10-minute registers. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 062-CTS, circa 2012. (Est. CHF80,000-160,000 | US$88,000-170,000 | €81,000-160,000)

Lot 2017 - Centigraphe Souverain – an attractive 18k pink gold ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds and 10 minute registers. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 432-CT, circa 2016. (Est : CHF80,000-160,000 | US$91,000-180,000 | €82,000-160,000)

Lot 2030 – Centigraphe Sport Aluminium – lightweight and impressive aluminium ergonomic chronograph wristwatch with 100th of a second, 20th seconds, 10-minute registers. Signed F.P. Journe, No. 062-CTS, circa 2012. (Est. CHF80,000-160,000 | US$88,000-170,000 | €81,000-160,000)

The Black Label Editions, The Boutique Editions

A Black Label edition of any F.P.Journe model is always the most prized and difficult to obtain, only offered to existing F.P. Journe watch owners. These timepieces were available exclusively through F.P.Journe boutiques, with between 2 and 12 Black Label Edition timekeepers each year (a maximum of 2 per model).