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Lot Essay
This endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. The watch will be supplied with a calf leather strap.
A historic piece of Formula One memorabilia as well as one of the rarest creations from F.P. Journe’s early production, the present Ruthenium Chronomètre à Résonance is number 92 of only 99 examples produced between 2001 and 2005. It forms part of the celebrated five-piece Ruthenium Collection, each watch individually numbered 92⁄99, all formerly owned by Michael Schumacher. It is widely believed that Schumacher selected this number in reference to his first Formula One Grand Prix victory in 1992.
Produced between 2001 and 2005, the Ruthenium Collection represents a pivotal chapter in François-Paul Journe’s career, bridging the transition between the early rhodium-plated brass movements and the manufacture’s now-iconic solid 18K pink gold calibres introduced from 2004 onwards. The collection comprises five models: the Octa Jour/Nuit, Octa Calendrier, Octa Chronographe, Chronomètre à Résonance (the present timepiece), and Tourbillon Souverain, each issued in a strictly limited edition of only 99 examples.
Among the most coveted early F.P. Journe creations, the Ruthenium Collection introduced the larger 40 mm case while retaining the celebrated brass movement architecture. Both the movement and the solid gold dial are coated in ruthenium, creating the collection's distinctive anthracite appearance while preserving the exceptional depth and lustre that characterise Journe's early dial production.
The development of the Chronomètre à Résonance itself is one of the most fascinating stories in contemporary horology. Before entering regular production, the model debuted in 2000 through a series of twenty celebrated 'Souscription' timepieces, numbered 1 to 20 and bearing the suffix '00R'. Inspired by Abraham-Louis Breguet's subscription system, clients paid in advance, allowing François-Paul Journe to finance the production of the watches. Following these pioneering examples, the first regular-production Résonance models were manufactured between 2000 and 2004 in 38 mm cases in either platinum or pink gold, with white, pink, or yellow gold dials. These early brass-movement watches are further distinguished by the bell-shaped screws securing the subsidiary dial frames, a subtle construction detail that François-Paul Journe himself used to distinguish first-generation examples from the later pink gold movement series.
The Chronomètre à Résonance
The Chronomètre à Résonance stands as perhaps the purest expression of François-Paul Journe's horological philosophy. It remains one of the only serially produced wristwatches to successfully exploit the natural physical phenomenon of resonance, first observed by Christiaan Huygens in 1665, when he discovered that two pendulum clocks suspended from the same beam gradually synchronised their oscillations.
This phenomenon later fascinated great horologists including Abraham-Louis Breguet and Antide Janvier, both of whom experimented with resonance in portable timekeepers. Although Breguet produced only three resonance pocket watches in the early nineteenth century, it was François-Paul Journe who ultimately succeeded in miniaturising this remarkable principle into a wristwatch. Within the Chronomètre à Résonance, two balances progressively synchronise with one another, significantly improving chronometric stability by reducing the effects of external disturbances. The achievement remains one of the defining mechanical innovations of modern independent watchmaking.
Michael Schumacher
Few names transcend Formula One quite like Michael Schumacher. Following a remarkable karting career, he entered Formula One with Benetton in 1991 before securing consecutive World Drivers' Championships in 1994 and 1995. His move to Ferrari ushered in one of the greatest eras in motor racing history. Between 2000 and 2004, Schumacher claimed five consecutive World Championships, bringing his total to seven, a record that stood for many years and cemented his status as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.
The present Chronomètre à Résonance therefore combines two exceptional provenances: it is not only one of the rarest and most desirable early F.P. Journe timepieces, but also a watch formerly owned by one of the greatest sporting legends of the modern era.
A historic piece of Formula One memorabilia as well as one of the rarest creations from F.P. Journe’s early production, the present Ruthenium Chronomètre à Résonance is number 92 of only 99 examples produced between 2001 and 2005. It forms part of the celebrated five-piece Ruthenium Collection, each watch individually numbered 92⁄99, all formerly owned by Michael Schumacher. It is widely believed that Schumacher selected this number in reference to his first Formula One Grand Prix victory in 1992.
Produced between 2001 and 2005, the Ruthenium Collection represents a pivotal chapter in François-Paul Journe’s career, bridging the transition between the early rhodium-plated brass movements and the manufacture’s now-iconic solid 18K pink gold calibres introduced from 2004 onwards. The collection comprises five models: the Octa Jour/Nuit, Octa Calendrier, Octa Chronographe, Chronomètre à Résonance (the present timepiece), and Tourbillon Souverain, each issued in a strictly limited edition of only 99 examples.
Among the most coveted early F.P. Journe creations, the Ruthenium Collection introduced the larger 40 mm case while retaining the celebrated brass movement architecture. Both the movement and the solid gold dial are coated in ruthenium, creating the collection's distinctive anthracite appearance while preserving the exceptional depth and lustre that characterise Journe's early dial production.
The development of the Chronomètre à Résonance itself is one of the most fascinating stories in contemporary horology. Before entering regular production, the model debuted in 2000 through a series of twenty celebrated 'Souscription' timepieces, numbered 1 to 20 and bearing the suffix '00R'. Inspired by Abraham-Louis Breguet's subscription system, clients paid in advance, allowing François-Paul Journe to finance the production of the watches. Following these pioneering examples, the first regular-production Résonance models were manufactured between 2000 and 2004 in 38 mm cases in either platinum or pink gold, with white, pink, or yellow gold dials. These early brass-movement watches are further distinguished by the bell-shaped screws securing the subsidiary dial frames, a subtle construction detail that François-Paul Journe himself used to distinguish first-generation examples from the later pink gold movement series.
The Chronomètre à Résonance
The Chronomètre à Résonance stands as perhaps the purest expression of François-Paul Journe's horological philosophy. It remains one of the only serially produced wristwatches to successfully exploit the natural physical phenomenon of resonance, first observed by Christiaan Huygens in 1665, when he discovered that two pendulum clocks suspended from the same beam gradually synchronised their oscillations.
This phenomenon later fascinated great horologists including Abraham-Louis Breguet and Antide Janvier, both of whom experimented with resonance in portable timekeepers. Although Breguet produced only three resonance pocket watches in the early nineteenth century, it was François-Paul Journe who ultimately succeeded in miniaturising this remarkable principle into a wristwatch. Within the Chronomètre à Résonance, two balances progressively synchronise with one another, significantly improving chronometric stability by reducing the effects of external disturbances. The achievement remains one of the defining mechanical innovations of modern independent watchmaking.
Michael Schumacher
Few names transcend Formula One quite like Michael Schumacher. Following a remarkable karting career, he entered Formula One with Benetton in 1991 before securing consecutive World Drivers' Championships in 1994 and 1995. His move to Ferrari ushered in one of the greatest eras in motor racing history. Between 2000 and 2004, Schumacher claimed five consecutive World Championships, bringing his total to seven, a record that stood for many years and cemented his status as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time.
The present Chronomètre à Résonance therefore combines two exceptional provenances: it is not only one of the rarest and most desirable early F.P. Journe timepieces, but also a watch formerly owned by one of the greatest sporting legends of the modern era.