This 40mm F.P. Journe Octa Lune is one of the more unusual configurations found within the watchmaker's production, featuring the combination of a rose gold case and matching dial. Beyond the work of Francois-Paul Journe, few comparables exist where both the core and exterior are rendered in solid rose gold, taking the longstanding approach to tone-on-tone watches to another level.

The Octa Lune Story

The Octa movement was introduced in 2001, becoming the third ever caliber developed by Franois-Paul Journe, following theTourbillon Souverain and the Chronomtre Rsonance. It was also the first automatic mechanismdesignedby the brand, which would go on to power a range of different complicated watches. The Octa Rserve de Marche and the Octa Lune were the first two to be released, markingthe manufacture's first steps into automaticpieces.

Two years after the movement was first developed, F.P. Journe introduced the Octa Lune, which was produced between 2003 and 2014, with less than 800 casesbelieved to have left the manufacture. For the first two years, the movements were made out of brass, before they transitioned to rose gold. During this time, the overall layoutsaw no real change, except for the dial texture and colours. Throughout the production cycle of the model, both the 38mm and 40mm case size were used,with this model being an example of the latter.

In 2015, theOcta Lune Nouvelle replaced the Octa Lune collection, with an updated 42mm case size, tilted moonphase,engraved numerals,as well as a range of other changes. This Octa Lune, with its matching rose gold case and dial, marks the last generation of the original design. Its serial number on the caseback indicates that it was among the first 340 pieces to be produced with a rose gold movement.

The design

Housed in a contemporary 40mm case, this Octa Lune is made distinctive by a number of signature elementsthroughout. The combination of the rose gold case and matching dial is rather unusual, being one of the rarest configurations found in Francois-Paul Journe's production. The tone-on-tone nature of it,reminiscent of some vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches, has been of particular appeal to some.

The warm, rose gold dial is delicately textured, and displays a separate silver guilloch dial for the hours and minutes. The words "Phases de Lune" are inscribed below the moonphase indicator, following the curvature of the aperture. This is mirrored by the the words "Invenit et Fecit" at the top of the dial, which isLatin for "Invented and Made" or more literally "Designed and built by F.P. Journe".

At nine oclock, a power reserve indicator of 120 hours is also shown. Interestingly, when the Octa movement was first introduced, the power reserve could actually reach 168 hours, rather than 120. However,the chronometric performance for those additional hours was not as Journe hoped or promised with the watch. For this reason, Journe stopped the power reserve at just 120 hours, which was still the largest that had ever been put into a wristwatch at the time.

The Movement

In 2004, Journe switched to manufacturing movements from 18 carat gold, having developed the brand sufficiently to further the manufacturing process and move away from brass. With this introduction, all existing movements were issued with new caliber codes. In the case of the Octa Series, this caliber was referred to as 1300.2, before receiving a further update as 1300.3, indicating the third version of the movement. The 1300.3 marked the switch from bi-directional to uni-directional winding, introducing a new ball-bearing system to increase winding efficiency.

This Octa Lune is powered by this updated 1300.3 caliber, which is made out of18 carat rose gold, with Ctes de Genve embellishments. It features a straight-line lever escapement, and monometallic 4-arm balance with 4 timing weights, adjusted to 5 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring and off-center, uni-directional 22-carat gold guilloch rotor. The movement is engraved "Exclusive Power Reserve System" and "Precision Chronometer".

Theset

This 40mm Octa Lunecomes with an original F.P Journealligator strap,one of ourgrained leather leather strap with curved ends and corresponding rose gold buckle. It's also accompanied the original inner and outer boxes, and stamped guarantee card from F.P. Journe.

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Closer look