BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
F.P. Journe’s watches have a reputation for being some of the best mechanical watches around, even higher on people’s made-up tier lists than Patek Philippe and even A. Lange & Söhne. To mark 20 years of F.P. Journe’s Tokyo boutique, the brand is releasing a 200-piece limited edition watch to celebrate, and it seems to be one of the brand’s best-looking releases as of late.
The new timepiece is a masterful fusion of titanium and 18k gold, a unique combination that not only enhances its visual appeal but also underscores the brand’s commitment to innovative design. With its comfortable dimensions of 40mm x 10.40mm, and adorned with a burgundy-coloured alligator leather strap and an 18k gold buckle, this watch is a testament to F.P. Journe’s dedication to creating wearable luxury.
The dial is clear and legible, two subdials make up the majority of the visual complication thanks to their cutaways revealing some of the gold movement. Thin hands indicate the passage of time on the subdials one of which measures the running seconds and the other the chronograph minutes. A larger central hand indicates the chronograph seconds and points to a tachymeter scale around the dial edge. Meanwhile, F.P. Journe’s uniquely shaped hands make it to the dial, too. A large date window at 6 O’clock provides a balanced dial, as well, and it’s been colour-matched to the guilloché dial.
Around the back of the dial is the other reason people love F.P. Journe’s watches so much. The hand-wound calibre 1518.2 is made of rose gold rather than plated brass, which is the traditional Swiss method. The movement is made of 245 individual components, which have been finished to perfection. The power reserve is a practical 80 hours without the chronograph running. And, yes, the chronograph is a flyback chronograph.
This watch will reportedly be the last of the Limited Series of watches from F.P. Journe, which came about in 2005. The brand’s Tokyo boutique, located in the Omotesando district, was the first boutique, and there are now 12 worldwide. Before taxes the price is CHF90,000.
