Philosophy
INVENIT ET FECIT - Movements in worldwide exclusivity entirely invented and manufactured in house
Chronometers by F.P.Journe - Invenit et Fecit - possess a powerful aesthetic identity. They reflect a new vision of contemporary watch making. Their designer, who is above all a master-watchmaker, wanted simple, companionable yet spectacular watches of round shape because they guarantee the best using of space.
Excellence is the essence of an F.P.Journe watch, and so are authenticity and chronometry. That is why the cases of all F.P.Journe creations are made only in the most precious metals - platinum or 18K red gold. Exception is made for striking watches for which the case is produced in steel, as it is the best metal transmitting beautiful strong and crystal clear sounds.
Exclusive movements
The essential is housed within the very heart of F.P.Journe’s exclusive movements realised entirely in 18K red gold; a first in the watch world and a unique feature of the brand.
For the Octa collection with automatic winding, the rotor is produced in 22K rose gold, and slightly off centre for an optimum winding.
Signed with the label -Invenit et Fecit- (invented and made), each F.P.Journe exclusive movement guarantees a manufacture calibre, entirely invented, constructed, and assembled in the Geneva workshops.
The inscription “Invenit et Fecit“ was also present on watches made by the great French masters from the 18th Century for pieces that had been proclaimed as originals by the Royal Academy of Sciences.
The dials
The dials and movements echo one another in perfect harmony. Realised in 18K red or white gold, and in guilloché silver, they reveal the most hidden secrets of the mysterious F.P.Journe mechanical gear-trains. Thanks to his own dial-makers' workshop, F.P.Journe rises above concessions which allows his imagination to roam freely. The dials are the authentic faces of his watches and their elegant features do far more than simply show the time. Instead, they reveal the heart of each watch for all to admire.
François-Paul Journe © F.P.Journe
A totally new construction
Watches with a long power reserve of classical construction suffer from the fact that their small balance is sensitive to shocks and disturbances. All chronometers in the Souveraine and Octa collections house an exclusive large-size four-arm balance, providing enhanced precision rating stability.
A limited production - To each watch its watchmaker
The team of F.P.Journe watchmakers is driven by a shared motivation: a return to a fullfledged watchmaker's work. In an increasingly segmented industry, few watchmakers have the opportunity to create a watch from start to finish and even less are able to follow its destiny.
In the workshops of François-Paul Journe, the watchmakers who have chosen to associate with him are all inspired by a common purpose: to pursue their training and hone their skills by working with new, exclusive and technically innovative calibres. All are keenly aware that more new introductions will be forthcoming and that technical challenges and learning experiences will be their daily lot.
Each watchmaker is responsible for making a specific watch, according to his professional affinities and above all his technical sensitivity. His mission will be to perform all stages in assembling the watch: fitting the exclusive F.P.Journe movement, the often delicate rating process, casing-up and testing before submitting it to the "master" for an ultimate check.
Much like a cardiologist, a watchmaker becomes acquainted with the slightest reactions and vagaries of the mechanism which are so inherent in mechanical watches. Somewhat like a "godfather", if one considers the design-engineer as the father, he becomes responsible for each watch for the guarantee period following purchase. Each stage is carefully recorded and enables a precise review of all the watchmaker's gestures. It is a real privilege for these passionately dedicated watchmakers to follow the career of the watches they make. Each of them carries with it the secret of the number of hours the watchmaker has spent with it and thus acquires a unique dimension.
It is imbued with the sense of companionship of which only its "godfather" can bring back the memories when meeting it at a later date. If necessary, he will find the means to restore his “protégé” to its initial radiance and ensure that its heart is as young as when they first parted !