Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is immensely proud to announce, for the first time on the market, not only a complete set of F.P. Journe ‘Souscription’ watches but more importantly the number 1 in each series, to be offered at auction in The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV in November 2021. In 1999, after years of restoring antique clocks and watches as well as making unique commission pieces for discerning collectors, François-Paul Journe set out to create his eponymous brand. To finance this adventure, Journe created 20 tourbillon wristwatches with remontoir d’égalité to be sold to existing clients and friends using a subscription system, à la Abraham Louis Breguet, whereby the future owners would pay part of the price of the watch upfront. When he decided to launch the Chronomètre à Résonance a year later, Journe used the same system and the owners of the tourbillon were also offered to purchase a Résonance, bearing the same number as their tourbillon. However, contrary to the tourbillon, the limited-edition number was not indicated on the dial.

Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant Bacs & Russo and Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe and Middle East, commented: “ François-Paul Journe is certainly one of the most talented watchmakers of his generation, not only aiming to better the works of the great watchmakers of the 18th century but also inventing ingenious new solutions. In the past few years, his creations have gained incredible traction and now compete with auction behemoths. The word “historic” may have been overused but we cannot find a better term to describe the Souscription Set n°1. These five watches are not only the foundation of Journe’s brand but whose historical importance and relevance as number 1 cannot be underlined enough. It is humbling to hold the Tourbillon n°1 in one’s hand and to think it was the very first watch Journe made to launch his brand. The rest, as they say, is history.”

The first twenty models made in the Octa collection —that was launched when Journe’s brand had been officially established —the Octa Réserve de Marche, Octa Chronographe, and Octa Calendrier were reserved for the collectors who had bought the original Tourbillon and Résonance ‘Souscription’ series, and subsequently also called ‘Souscription’ pieces by Journe. The present set of the five original ‘Souscription’ pieces are consigned by the original owner and bear Number 1, making this set not only incredibly rare but also historically relevant. As with all early F.P. Journe models, the present pieces have a 38mm diameter and a brass movement. These watches will be offered individually in The Geneva Watch Auction: XIV, to be held in November 2021.

Tourbillon à Remontoir d’Égalité Platinum

Fascinated by tourbillon watches, Journe decided to transpose Abraham-Louis Breguet’s invention into a wristwatch but also to improve it with the addition of a remontoir system - a constant force device used to provide an equal amount of energy disregarding the winding level of the mainspring, thus resulting in greater accuracy and amplitude. The first prototype was completed in 1991 and revisited in 1999 for his first serially produced wristwatch. Estimate CHF 300,000-600,000

Chronomètre à Résonance (Platinum and pink gold)

Since its launch in 2000, the Résonance has become one of contemporary horology’s most iconic pieces. Inspired by the work of the great 18th-century watchmaker Antide Janvier, Journe rose to the challenge in 1983 and created a pocket-watch using the resonance phenomenon, and launched a wristwatch 17 years later. It was the world’s first wristwatch to use the resonance phenomenon whereby the movement is composed of two independent balances, alternatively serving as an “exciter” and “resonator”. When in motion, the balances create the resonance effect and beat in opposition, naturally evening out each other’s discrepancies and thus permitting greater accuracy. The present model is one of only three Résonance “Souscription” pieces in platinum and pink gold with a white gold dial. Estimate CHF 200,000-400,000

Octa Collection Platinum: According to Journe, the development of his first automatic movement for the Octa collection was a real challenge partly in terms of chronometry and timekeeping, but also in terms of respect of day-to-day comfort. He thus devised a caliber with an eight-day power reserve that could incorporate many future complications within the same volume. An incredible challenge as, regardless of complications, the Octa caliber maintains its original dimensions.

Octa Réserve de Marche

Estimate CHF 50,000-100,000

Octa Chronographe

Estimate CHF 100,000-200,000

Octa Calendrier

Estimate CHF 80,000-160,000

The complete set of Journe Souscription No. 1 watches, will be exhibited for the first time on Friday, June 11 from 11am to 5pm EST at Maison F.P.Journe Miami. A historical event in its own right, they will be exhibited alongside two other remarkable, complete sets of Journe watches on loan from collectors —the first set with serial numbers 100 and the second set with serial numbers 1,000.