.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present limited-edition Ruthenium Octa Calendrier, numbered 80 of only 99 pieces, is one of the most collectible and historically significant F.P. Journe timepieces ever made. This remarkable platinum wristwatch, which was manufactured between 2003 and 2005, is part of the renowned Ruthenium Collection, a historic series that signaled the end of F.P. Journe's brass movement era. These last pieces made of brass have great significance for collectors as reminders of the brand's early years since Journe started making all of his movements in solid 18K gold in 2004. Superbly preserved, the present watch is accompanied by its Certificate which confirms the 40 mm. platinum case, ruthenium covered movement and 18k gold ruthenium covered dial.
The Octa Calendrier, the third complication in François-Paul Journe's automatic Octa series and his first annual calendar wristwatch, got its name from the Latin word 'Octa', which means eight, a representation of perfection and infinity. An important horological advance was the incorporation of an annual calendar with a retrograde date function while preserving the small size of the Octa caliber. The crown provides an elegant way to adjust all calendar indications, doing away with the need for pushers on the case band. Only once a year, at the end of February in non-leap years, do the instantaneous day and month displays need to be corrected to account for months with 28, 30, or 31 days. The Octa Calendrier, with its impressive 120-hour power reserve, was an unmatched fusion of mechanical precision, artistic refinement, and inventiveness. It won the Special Jury Prize at the 2002 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève shortly after its debut.
The Ruthenium Collection
Many people consider the Ruthenium Collection to be among the most aesthetically striking and historically significant series in F.P. Journe's body of work. The collection consisted of 99 examples of each of the following five models: the Chronomètre à Résonance, Tourbillon Souverain, Octa Calendrier, Octa Chronographe, and Octa Jour/Nuit (the last of which was unique to this series). Unlike the earlier 38 mm executions, these watches are the only F.P. Journe brass-movement timepieces that are housed in 40 mm cases. The platinum family member ruthenium was selected for both practical and aesthetic reasons. In addition to being corrosion-resistant, the metal's delicate, shifting grey sheen gives each dial and movement a distinct depth and brilliance, elevating the sculptural aspect of Journe's creations. The current Octa Calendrier Ruthenium, which combines technical mastery, poetic design, and extreme rarity into one exceptional wristwatch, thus holds a special place in F.P. Journe's history as a bridge between the brand's early years and its current golden era.
The Octa Calendrier, the third complication in François-Paul Journe's automatic Octa series and his first annual calendar wristwatch, got its name from the Latin word 'Octa', which means eight, a representation of perfection and infinity. An important horological advance was the incorporation of an annual calendar with a retrograde date function while preserving the small size of the Octa caliber. The crown provides an elegant way to adjust all calendar indications, doing away with the need for pushers on the case band. Only once a year, at the end of February in non-leap years, do the instantaneous day and month displays need to be corrected to account for months with 28, 30, or 31 days. The Octa Calendrier, with its impressive 120-hour power reserve, was an unmatched fusion of mechanical precision, artistic refinement, and inventiveness. It won the Special Jury Prize at the 2002 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève shortly after its debut.
The Ruthenium Collection
Many people consider the Ruthenium Collection to be among the most aesthetically striking and historically significant series in F.P. Journe's body of work. The collection consisted of 99 examples of each of the following five models: the Chronomètre à Résonance, Tourbillon Souverain, Octa Calendrier, Octa Chronographe, and Octa Jour/Nuit (the last of which was unique to this series). Unlike the earlier 38 mm executions, these watches are the only F.P. Journe brass-movement timepieces that are housed in 40 mm cases. The platinum family member ruthenium was selected for both practical and aesthetic reasons. In addition to being corrosion-resistant, the metal's delicate, shifting grey sheen gives each dial and movement a distinct depth and brilliance, elevating the sculptural aspect of Journe's creations. The current Octa Calendrier Ruthenium, which combines technical mastery, poetic design, and extreme rarity into one exceptional wristwatch, thus holds a special place in F.P. Journe's history as a bridge between the brand's early years and its current golden era.