F.P.Journe Vagabondage II limited edition of 69 pieces in platinum

The Long-Awaited Limited Series for Collectors

F.P.Journe presents the second chapter of the Vagabondage Limited Series, “Vagabondage II”, which will be produced in a limited series of 69 pieces in platinum and 68 pieces in 18K red gold, available from all authorized F.P.Journe points of sale around the world in December 2009.

It is essential to retrace the history of this creation, which has made its mark in the watchmaking history and represents the quintessence of anti-marketing. In 2004, for the 30th Anniversary of Antiquorum, François-Paul Journe created a unique piece to be sold at a Geneva charity auction in favour of the ICM, research institute for Brain and Spinal Cord diseases in Paris, www.icm-institute.org. This was an F.P.Journe Invenit et Fecit creation indeed, but with an unusual shape. For the first time, the Geneva Manufacture created a watch that was not round, with a flat Tortue-shaped case and a dial without the F.P.Journe signature.

Following that charity auction, for which 3 pieces were produced – one in rose gold, one in white gold and one in yellow gold, which sold for three times their value – a limited series of 69 pieces in platinum was launched with an 18K rose gold movement. This series was sold without promotion or publicity of any kind, and without any picture. Collectors went wild for it. A legend was born.

It goes without saying the Vagabondage II series has been long awaited by collectors. This second edition present a manually-wound movement and an original digital time display, with small second at 6, power reserve at 12. The 18K rose gold movement is visible through the dial in smoked sapphire crystal, also without the F.P.Journe signature.

F.P.Journe Vagabondage II limited edition of 68 pieces in 18K red gold, back

The 69 pieces in platinum feature white gold windows with blue hands, while the 68 pieces in 18K red gold have gold windows and hands.
Owners of a Vagabondage I will be given priority for the purchase of an identical limited number from the Vagabondage II series.

A third Vagabondage edition will very likely be created as new technical advances dictate. Each watch of the “Vagabondage” series will have an original digital display system.

F.P.Journe continually re-invents traditional watchmaking techniques and constantly works to produce novel time measurement instruments.

His peers the world over recognize his integrity in the realization of innovative pieces, his ingenuity, and his unique technical sense. A recipient of all the most prestigious horological prizes, F.P.Journe has been granted numerous awards at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie of Geneva, among them three influential “Golden Hand” awards.

François-Paul Journe is one of the last remaining Master watchmakers committed to defending the fundamental values of Haute Horology, as he pursues his quest to restore authenticity to the history and practice of time measurement.

Technical Specifications

Movement
Calibre 1509
Manual winding
Movement in 18K rose gold
30 jewels

Dimensions of the Movement
Overall diameter: 29.3 x 28.2 mm
Casing-up diameter: 29.3 x 28.4 mm
Overall height: 5.28 mm
Height of winding system: 3.13 mm
Diameter of stem thread: S0.90 mm

Balance
Four inertia weights
Flat Anachron microflamed spring
Mobile stud holders
Free sprung
Nivatronic laser-welded to collet
Pinned GE stud
Frequency: 21,600 v / h, (3Hz)
Inertia: 10.10 mg /cm2
Angle of lift: 52°
Amplitude: 0h dial up: > 260°
24h dial up: > 260°

Principal characteristics
1 minute constant force device, patented No EP 1528443
Digital indication of hours and minutes
Time adjustment via crown in position 2
Pallets escapement with 15 tooth escape wheel
Two position crown
Sub-second at 6h00
Power reserve at 12h00

Power reserve
40 hours

Decoration
High quality

Partly circular grained base plate and Geneva waves
Polished screw heads, chamfered slots
Pegs with polished rounded ends

Case
Flat Tortue shape 45 x 37.5 mm
Height 8.00 mm
Dial Smoked Sapphire

Limited Series
Platinum PT 950 69 pieces
White gold windows and blue hands
Rose gold 18K 68 pieces
Rose gold windows and hands

Number of parts
Movement without dial: 223
Cased-up on leather strap: 256

Source: www.fpjourne.com

“Best of the Best” Men’s watch 2009 by Robb Report

François-Paul Journe is acclaimed once again for its horological creations of exception; the Répétition Minute Souveraine has been awarded “Best of the Best” Men’s watch 2009 by Robb Report in the USA.

F.P.Journe, with its distinctive label – Invenit et Fecit, (invented and made) stamped on all watches of the collection certify an exclusive calibre, invented, manufactured and assembled entirely in the workshops of its Manufacture in the centre of Geneva. It vouches an authentic and innovative horology in the whole of its conception and symbolises the fundamental values of haute horlogerie.

F.P.Journe is mastering the measurement of time with the first ultra-slim minute repeater and once again raises the bar for striking watches. He has re-invented the minute repeater mechanism in a way which enables strong crystal clear tones to emanate from a seemingly impossibly svelte movement, with a size of barely 4mm, more reminiscent of a simple hand wound calibre than a highly intricate and complex complication.

F.P.Journe - Répétion Souveraine

Two key technical developments have enabled François-Paul Journe to construct a sweet sounding ultra-slim repeater movement. The first is the flat gong, first seen on the F.P. Journe Grande Sonnerie, which produces a louder and clearer sound than traditional gongs. And because the gong is mounted under the dial, instead of around the movement, it allows more room for the movement.

The second is an innovative system of striking racks and strike selection mechanisms which take up much less space than conventional strike mechanisms. These redevelopments have merited the application of two patents.

F.P.JOURNE Octa Perpetuelle

The OCTA collection unveils the Perpetual Calendar F.P.Journe Anniversary Watch in Limited Edition of 99 pieces

In 2001, F.P.Journe presented the OCTA collection composed of mechanical wristwatches with automatic winding featuring an exceptional power reserve of 5 days (120h), all of which have the same case thickness regardless of the complication. It was a technical prowess to insert all the complications of the OCTA line in the same space.

The OCTA PERPÉTUELLE, 8th creation of the collection rightfully bears its name and enriches the collection of the automatic winding calibre signed F.P. Journe –Invenit et Fecit. The new, well achieved prowess was in inserting this time a perpetual calendar, in the same space.

Anniversary timekeeper, the new OCTA PERPÉTUELLE in Titanium celebrates the Boutiques F.P.Journe’s network around the world with the 5th anniversary of the first Boutique F.P.Journe in Tokyo.

Produced in Limited Series of 99, its case is exceptionally manufactured in Titanium for the occasion and is completed with a Ruthenium on Gold dial.
The automatic winding movement is manufactured in 18K rose gold, like that of all F.P.Journe –Invenit et Fecit watch creations. It is constructed on the exclusive OCTA calibre 1300.3, with retrograde date indication, an aperture for the day, another for the month, with indication of the leap year within the month of February.

The passing of the months of 28, 29, 30 and 31 days is done automatically with recognition of the leap year (indicated).

The OCTA PERPÉTUELLE also features the exclusive off-centre F.P.Journe rotor that winds in only one direction with an autoblocant ball bearing system (self-blocking). The ceramic balls allow the rotor to move in one direction and block it in the other. In this way, every infinitesimal movement is maximally exploited for an optimized winding of the watch.

The secured pusher at 8 o’clock is intended for the manual passing of the months during the initial setting. This exclusive pusher avoids any possibility of accidental activating, allowing a use without any specific tools.

The OCTA PERPÉTUELLE has been presented in Première On May 29, 2009 at the Boutique F.P.Journe in Tokyo

It will then be presented and available only in the Boutiques F.P.Journe :
Paris – Geneva – Tokyo – Hong Kong – Boca Raton – New York – Beijing – (winter 2009)

Technical Specification – OCTA Perpétuelle

Movement : Automatic Calibre FPJ 1300-3 in 18K rose gold (4N)
Perpetual Calendar
Off-centre 22K gold guilloché winding rotor
Unidirectional automatic winding
Three position crown
Correction of date and month in one rotating sense, of the day in the other sense in position 2 of the winding stem
Number of jewels : 41

Dimensions of the movement:
Overall diameter: 30.80 mm
Casing-up diameter: 30.40 mm
Overall height: 5.86 mm
Height of winding stem: 2.80 mm
Diameter of stem thread: S0.90 mm

Indications: Hours / Off centre minutes / Small second at 4h30 / Retrograde Date / Day indicator / Month indicator with indication of Leap year in February: 1, 2, 3, and B for the 4th leap year (bissextile)

Decoration : Circular Côtes de Genève on 18K gold bridges
Circular graining on 18K gold baseplate
Polished screw heads with chamfered slots
Chamfered and circular grained wheels, diamond-moulded
Pegs with polished rounded ends

Escapement : Escapement 15 tooth

Balance : Four adjustable inertia weights
Anachron free-sprung flat balance spring
Mobile stud holder
Nivatronic laser soldered balance spring
Pinned GE stud
Frequency : 21′600 Alt/h, 3 Hz
Inertia 10.10 mgcm2
Angle of lift : 52°
Amplitude : 0 h à plat : > 300°
24 h à plat : > 280°
Autonomy : 160+/- 12heures

Dial : Gold covered with Ruthenium
Hours and minutes, small second in silvered guilloché
Date display in silver

Case: Titanium
Diameter 40 mm.
Height 10.6 mm

Number of parts : Movement without dial 271
Cased up with strap 315

Winding Speed : 274 anti clock-wise rotations per 24hours 

F.P.Journe - Centigraphe Souverain

Geneva, April 8, 2009, François-Paul Journe is acclaimed once again for its horological creations of exception. William Rohr, general Manager of Timezone.com, has awarded the timezone.com trophy « Watch of The Year 2008 » to F.P.Journe for the exceptional chronograph the Centigraphe Souverain. The ceremony took place in the exhibition room of the F.P.Journe Manufacture in Geneva.

F.P.Journe is delighted to reconfirm the success of this spectacular mechanical chronograph, already awarded a few month ago by the highest horological distinction “Aiguille d’Or” (Golden Hand) at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie of Geneva on November 13, 2008. The Centigraphe Souverain offers 360′000 km/h. at your fingertips; the art to convert 6 km/h. in 360’000 km/h.

F.P.Journe, with its distinctive label – Invenit et Fecit, (invented and made) stamped on all watches of the collection certify an exclusive calibre, invented, manufactured and assembled entirely in the workshops of its Manufacture in the
centre of Geneva. It vouches an authentic and innovative horology in the whole of its conception and symbolises the fundamental values of haute horlogerie.

F.P.Journe is mastering the measurement of time with this new mechanical chronograph unlike any other ever made before. The hand-wound movement of the Centigraphe Souverain measures elapsed times from one hundredth of a second to 10 minutes on three dials, each with a time scale in red and a tachometer scale in black. The tachometer scales convert times into speeds ranging from 6 km/h – the walking pace – to 360,000 km/h, well above the escape velocity of a rocket going into low-level orbit.

François-Paul Journe with the Timezone.com trophy

The Trophée Timezone.com
The Timezone.com Watch of the Year Prize has been created in 2003. It is prepared by 40 Timezone moderators around the world who are selecting 10 watches commercialised within the year, for their complexity, skilful innovation, expertise of realisation and aesthetic. During 3 weeks, each Timezone members can vote for the watch of the year of his –her- choice. The voting is taking place in January and the result is published in March.

The Centigraphe contributes to the Medical Research of the ICM – Institute of Brain and Spinal Cord in Paris- to help fight against brain and spinal cord diseases such as Alzheimer, Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis, … François-Paul Journe has committed next to Professor Gérard Saillant, Luc Besson, Jean Réno, Jean Todt, Michelle Yeoh and Michael Schumacher, amongst others, to donate 30% of the profit of the sale of each Centigraphe to the ICM.