ISSUE 9
202 5 EDITION
The art of stealthy time CHRONOMÈTRE FURTIF
20 YEARS WITH THE
A N O D E T O U N D E R S TAT E M E N T
CHRONOMÈTRE SOUVERAIN
Born from a unique piece designed to help the fight against muscular dystrophy, the new Chronomètre Furtif is now available as a series piece. It represents the very essence of the most accomplished mechanical watchmaking reduced to its simplest expression, a pleasing return to basics : having the time for you and you alone! While the unique “Chronomètre Furtif Bleu” piece was the first in the world to feature a tantalum case and bracelet, the small production run of the Chronomètre Furtif has been designed by François-Paul Journe to have a case and bracelet made from tungsten carbide. It is an extremely hard material (approximately 1350 Vickers and 9 on the Mohs scale, which is close to the hardness of corundums such as sapphire), obtained by combining carbon and tungsten at high temperatures; it is double...
In the world of horology, simplicity is often the ultimate complexity. Few watchmakers embody this philosophy as profoundly as François-Paul Journe. While modern trends celebrate intricate complications and the pursuit of ever-increasing movement components, François-Paul Journe takes a different approach - working with a light touch to develop ingenious solutions to complex challenges. This philosophy is evident across his entire body of work, from his most mechanically intricate creations to his purest expression of timekeeping: the Chronomètre Souverain. Introduced in 2005, this timepiece not only exemplifies the brand’s technical mastery but also serves as a testament to the core principles that define F.P.Journe’s watchmaking. The Chronomètre Souverain is a time-only watch with a power reserve indicator, seemingly...
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Editorial François-Paul Journe 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Chronomètre Souverain ! After the Tourbillon Souverain, the Chronomètre à Résonance and the Octa, now it’s the turn of the Chronomètre Souverain (Ref. CS). In 2005, when I presented it to my friend, the great Italian journalist Eugenio Zigliotto ( †2010), he remarked : “ You’ve just created a watch for the next 50 years! ” This filled me with pride, but I think he had an eye for it. It is difficult to change anything in such a perfect architecture, which is why we’re simply offering two new blue dials. It is worth remembering that the CS remains the most popular watch in our collection. 2025 finally saw the appearance of the Chronomètre Furtif (CF), after the Tantalum version which sold at the Only Watch charity auction for a record 2 million CHF. I had planned to release it in 2024, but the task proved more difficult than I had anticipated. It’s true that this was because I raised the bar quite high, with an anthracite grey mirror-polished Grand Feu enamel dial and a Tungsten Carbide exterior interspersed with Tantalum parts. I really am very grateful to our teams for their support in completing the many modifications required. As a result, I’m not sure we’ll reach our 2025 target to produce 100 pieces. But we hope it will enjoy the same perennial appeal as the Chronomètre Souverain.
The Tokyo Boutique anniversary was magnificent. Many of our friends made the trip, some of them discovering Japan for the first time. The dedicated watch, the Chronographe Flyback, was literally snapped up. F.P.Journe Le Restaurant, headed by Chef Dominique Gauthier, was awarded a Michelin star and a Gault & Millau rating of 16 just 11 months after opening. And the prodigious Dominique continues to impress with his incredible creations. So much so that a book of his recipes has been published! Here I will finish with a phrase I am particularly fond of : As you know, and because I know you appreciate us for who we are, the limited production of F.P.Journe watches will never change - because the excellence of our work requires it.
François -Paul Journe
Contrary to the industry trend, demand for our watches remains buoyant. The latest of our Boutiques, in London, has flourished under the direction of Shawn Mehta, who has done a remarkable job. I had no idea how much we had missed this place !
T H E I N T R I C AT E S D E TA I L S
FROM
THE
Y O U N G TA L E N T
THE STORY
OF THE CHRONOMÈTRE
WEIGHT TO
ASTRONOMICAL
COMPETITION
OF THE
FURTIF BLEU
SPRING
CLOCK
2024
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Contributors Audrey Humbert, Isabelle Cerboneschi, Angus Davies, Vincent Daveau, Osama Sendi, Gérard Wijnen Graphic Design Roberto Muniz Printed in Switzerland
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