Introduction
Perhaps the most Journe-esque timepiece, the Chronomètre a Resonance is a wonderful reminder of F.P. Journe's watchmaking credentials, as Francois-Paul himself is the one who cracked the code to unlock the code phenomenon of resonance in watchmaking in 1999. A truly marvelous achievement, Francois-Paul arranged two balance wheel assemblies so close to one another that they synchronized due to their frequencies aligning. These early Journe timepieces were pivotal in the brand's success, as without them, the brand would not have been financed. Featuring two subdials on either side of the dial to display two independent time-zones, with one power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock, the Chronomètre a Resonance is a beautifully symmetrical timepiece that is bursting full of horological history and heft, given its importance to the success of F.P. Journe as we know it today.
Loupe This Scorecard
Grade
M 8.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Original Wooden Box
Est. value range
$250,000 – $350,000
The Details
Brand
FP Journe
Dimensions
38mm x 8.8mm
Model
Chronomètre à Résonance
Movement
Manual-wind cal. 1499
Reference
01R
Bracelet
Leather strap
Year
2001
Condition
Excellent
Material
Platinum
Included
Watch and wooden box (interior is degraded)
Dial Color
Gold
THE DIAL
Featuring a rich gold dial and 38mm platinum case, this Chronomètre à Résonance was one of the first 100 Resonances ever made by F.P. Journe, placing it as a watch of inconceivable rarity, desirability and beauty. The watch features all the desirable early attributes including the two-toned subdials and the rich gold hued dial.
THE MOVEMENT
With two balance wheels closely situated, FP Journe's caliber 1499 was the first successful commercial execution of a movement that demonstrated the theory of resonance. With its rhodium-plated brass construction, it is, without a doubt, the most famous movement to come out of the F.P. Journe atelier.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in excellent overall condition. The case exhibits some signs of superficial wear, with some marks visible along the case sides and bezel. Caseback engravings and hallmarks are crisp and fully visible. The original early gold dial is in excellent overall condition. There are signs of oxidation on the surface, particularly from the left edges of the dial. These along with the visible lines near the areas of oxidation are hallmarks of the early series dials. A few other small marks visible on the surface of the subdials with a loupe, and some marks on a few of the screw heads visible on the dial. According to records from FP Journe, the watch was last serviced at the manufacture in 2015. The watch is accompanied with its original burl wood box, but consistent with packaging made in that era, the interior has been deteriorating and falling apart as seen in the images.
Please Note: Due to CITES considerations, if the watch is to be shipped outside of the USA, the exotic skin strap will have to be removed.
Our Perspective
An intensely rare watch that helped define F.P. Journe's early exploits in the world of independent watchmaking, this example combines one of F.P. Journe's most iconic movements with the brand's rich history and places it into a package that any collector would be lucky to own.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
