This 40mm F.P. Journe Octa Rserve de Marche is one of the earliest executions of the model withan updated rose gold movement, housing the transitional 1300-2 calibre.The combination of a rose gold case and matching dial is rather visually distinctive,being one of the more unusualconfigurations found within the watchmaker'sproduction. Further to that, beyond the work of Francois-Paul Journe, few comparables existwhere both the core and exterior of the watch are rendered inrose gold.

The history

The earliest works of , effortlessly blend traditional 19th-century watchmaking with modern haute-horology. The Octamovementwas introduced in 2001, becoming only the third developed by brand (after the and ) and the first automatic mechanismto deliver 120 hours of precision timekeeping, through reserved-power.

A year later, the Octa Rserve de Marche became F.P. Journes first automatic watch, produced between 2002 and 2014, with an estimated total number of only 700-800 cases known. During this time, the overall layoutsaw no real change except for dial texture and colours. Throughout the production cycle of the model, both the 38mm and 40mm case size was used,with this model being an example of the latter.

The movement

While this piece is undeniably attractive, it is the movement that F.P. Journe is famed for. Since the introduction of the first Reserve de Marchein 2001, mechanical F. P Journe examples canbe divided into two main movement types the manually-wound Souverainand automatic Octa (Latin for "eight" or "infinite"). Each Octa movement is designed to incorporate fully-integrated complications within the same volume. Impressively, all variations within F. P Journes entire Octa collection are identical, both in diameter and thickness.

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 calibre codes. In the case of the Octa Series, this calibre was referred to as 1300-2; indicating the second version of the movement. Its believed that very few 1300-2 movements were made, during a short transitional period - consequently, making these rarer than many of the first generation brass-movement pieces. You can about this in in-depth study.

This self-winding F.P. Journe caliber 1300 movement is 18-carat rose gold, with Ctes de Genve embellishments, constructed with 32 jewels and a shock absorber mechanism. It further 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-centre bi-directional 22-carat gold guilloche rotor. The movement is engraved "Exclusive Power Reserve System" and "Precision Chronometer".

The design

The Octa Rserve de Marcheis quintessentially an F.P Journe, in both its design language and movement. Housed in a contemporary 40mm case, it 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, remiscent of some vintage Patek Philippe wristwatches, has been of particular appeal to some.

The words Invenit et Fecit are inscribed below the power reserve (Latin for Invented and Made or more literally 'Designed and built by F.P. Journe') in classicF.P. Journestyle - a nod to signing conventions of a century ago. At nine oclock, a power reserve indicator of 120 hours is also shown.

Theset

This 40mm Octa Rserve de Marche comes with an original F.P Journealligator strap, a bespoke nubuck leather strap with curved ends (measuring 20 x 19mm) 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