ISSUE 8
202 4 EDITION
10th anniversary of the élégante I N N O VA T I O N I N T H E
THE SECRETS OF THE HAND
LINESPORT COLLECTION
T H AT T E L L S T H E T I M E
What sets F.P.Journe apart from other watchmaking Maisons ? It is the artistic vision of its founder, François-Paul Journe. If we follow his career from his beginnings as a young watchmaker in Paris to the present day, we can see that he has always respected his commitment: to create only watches that truly resonate with his own aesthetic convictions, without being influenced by short-lived trends. In his own words: “If I could afford it, I would create a single example of each timepiece, documenting my work in a book. But out of necessity, I have to sell my creations to finance future ones. Luckily, my watches resonate with many collectors; however, even if they didn’t like what I make, I would still make what I love.” With such a perspective, it is quite easy to understand why prior to the introduction of F.P.Journe’s lineSport collection in 2011...
In 2021, the FFC Blue prototype watch, designed by the watchmaker François-Paul Journe, fetched USD 5,000,000 million at the Only Watch charity auction. Two years later, the FFC timepiece, in which the time is indicated instantaneously by the animated fingers of a titanium hand, entered in the Classique collection. But what secrets does this animated hand, engraved in trompe-l’œil, conceal? Visit the workshops where the material comes to life. The first time I discovered the FFC Blue watch, or rather the prototype created for the 2021 edition of the Only Watch charity auction, I felt I had to solve a riddle. How do you tell the time on a dial that features both a rotating peripheral disc indicating the minutes and a blue titanium-gloved hand indicating the hours? Never before have the words “digital time reading” been so appropriate...
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Editorial François-Paul Journe 2023, a year very rich in happiness and sadness. The launch in small production of the FFC, following the FFC Blue prototype donated to Only Watch in 2021 with the result that we know, rolled out smoothly with the usual small technical problems now resolved. We are happy to release a few pieces per year. I had created the Chronomètre Furtif Bleu for the 2023 auction in preparation for the introduction of the new model into our collections, in the same manner as the Astronomic and the FFC. This charity auction, oh so important for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy to which Luc Pettavino has devoted all his time and energy for the past 20 years, had to be postponed, to my deep regret. As I write these few lines, my heart goes out to our Friend Luc for Only Watch to resume as quickly as possible. Apropos, I have been told the auction will take place in May 2024. In the month of November F.P.Journe Le Restaurant opened its doors in Geneva. A world first, a restaurant dedicated to watchmaking where the names of geniuses from the past live together, their names written on each table: French, English, German and Swiss watchmakers!
We will soon celebrate the 20 th year of our Tokyo Boutique, the first watch boutique in the world with a bar! I created a trend that has now become quite popular. Following the terrible departure of our Friend and partner Gino, I decided to pay tribute to him with the élégante Gino’s Dream. Which coincides with the 10 th anniversary of the élégante model that was presented during our 2014 salon. From this sadness, I pass to a feeling of happiness. The son of Gino’s wife, Shawn Mehta, known for his professionalism and great watchmaking culture, has joined us to direct the brand-new London Boutique. And here I will end with my dedicated phrase: As you know and because you appreciate us as we are, the limited production of F.P.Journe watches will not change, because the excellence of our work depends upon it. François -Paul Journe
The refined cuisine of Starred Chef Dominique Gauthier adds pleasures of the tastebuds to the fabulous décor with woodwork classified as a historic monument; after all, this site has been a restaurant since 1912.
FROM
I N N O VAT I O N
GENESIS OF
F. P. J O U R N E
Y O U N G TA L E N T
WEIGHT TO
IN THE LINESPORT
T H E J.- C . S A B R I E R
LE
COMPETITION
SPRING
COLLECTION
LIBRARY
R E S TA U R A N T
2023
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Contributors Audrey Humbert, Isabelle Cerboneschi, Hubert de Haro, Osama Sendi, Sebastian Whitestone Graphic Design Roberto Muniz Printed in Switzerland
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