This Octa Rserve de Marche is one of a small number of pieces produced during the brand's transition from brass to rose gold movements. From 2007, it was sold six years after the model's first year of production, still displaying a number of early features, including the two-tone, silvery sub-dial. Accompanied by its outer box, inner wooden box and warranty card from William & Son, London, it also comes with a copy of a servicing receipt fromF.P. Journe, dated 2014.

The Dawn ofMontres Journe

Prior to launching his own brand,had already proven his skill as a talented watchmaker. Having spent time restoring clocks and pocket watches from the likes ofJanvierandBreguet, he had also completed complex commissions forAspreyandCartier, among others. In his own time, the young watchmaker had also already assembled a pocket watch integrating a tourbillon, by following the writings of, as well as a handful of prototype wristwatches integrating a tourbillon and remontoir dgalit systems. However, Journe had not yet established his own brand, lacking the capital to do so.

One day, while out to lunch, his friend Camille Berthet suggested a subscription model. The idea was simple; a few trusting clients would have put the money forward for a watch that was yet to be made. In exchange for this good faith, they would receive a 50%reductionon its retail value, allowing the watchmaker to raise just enough money to start the production of pieces under his own eponymous brand. The project behind thewas born, with twenty close clients and friends of the watchmaker committing a deposit, sight unseen. These early wristwatches became the foundation of theF.P. Journemanufacture we know today.

The Birth of the Octa

TheOcta Rserve de Marchewas the first automatic movement developed and produced by Franois-Paul Journe. The watchmakeraspired to do was create a base calibre that could hold all kinds of complications, without gaining a fraction of a millimetre in thickness or width. He achieved in doing so, hence why allthe movements in the Octa line, from theOcta Chronographe to the Octa Calendrier, all share the same dimensions,no matter what complication they hold.That base caliber birthed a whole collection of complicated watches, which endure to this day.

The first step in this journey was the Octa Rserve de Marche, introduced in 2001. Only two years after establishing his own eponymous brand, this was the third watch released by Franois-Paul Journe, following the Tourbillon Souverain and the Chronomtre Rsonance.Combined, these three models represent the watchmaker's earliest brushstrokes and the foundation for the brand he would build over the following decades.

An transitional example

Between 2001 and 2003, it is estimated that F.P. Journe produced between 459 and 530 Octa Rserve de Marche watches with brass movements, before transitioning to solid gold movements. This change is understood to have occurred in 2004, once the brand was sufficiently developed to further their manufacturing processes 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, indicating the second version of the movement. Its believed that very few 1300-2 movements were made, during a short transitional period. Consequently, it makes these rarer than many of the first generation brass-movement pieces. You can read more about this in in-depth study.

The Design

TheOcta Rserve de Marchebuilds on the aesthetic cues cemented by the Tourbillon Souverain and the Chronomtre Rsonance. The dial design integrates a masterful use of asymmetry and empty space, achieving a layout that is bothrefined andlegible.Though the dials of theOcta Rserve de Marcheseries show very little alteration throughout the rose gold movement period, some earlier examples still retain the two-tone silvery sub-dial - a feature which is typically only found onJourne'searliest wristwatches .

The asymmetric dial is delicately textured,with a separate silver guilloch dial for the hours and minutes. 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. The classic 38mm case is another reminder of this being one of the watchmaker's earlier pieces.

The movement

Theself-windingF.P. Journecaliber 1300-2 movementis made from solid rose gold, including the bi-directional rotor in 22K rose gold. The bi-directional winding rotor was later changed in subsequent calibres, in favour of uni-directional winding, making it a feature of only the early brass and rose gold movement pieces.

It featuresCtes de Genveembellishments, constructed with 32 jewels and a shock absorber mechanism. Italso integrates a straight-line lever escapement, and monometallic 4-arm balance with 4 timing weights, adjusted to 5 positions. The movement is engraved "Exclusive Power Reserve System" and "Precision Chronometer".

The development of the movement was a prolonged process, with the main task being refining the mainspring to a point where it gave consistent power to the gear train, for as large a proportion of its unwinding as possible. Together with a specialist spring maker, Journe finally settled on a design that was a metre long and 1mm thick. This caliber 1300-2 also integrates a power reserve of 120 hours.

Theset

This 38mmOcta Rserve de Marcheis accompanied by its original outer box and inner wooden box. It also comes with its warranty card, which is stamped by William & Son, London and dated March 2007. It comes on one of our bespoke taupe saffianostraps (with curved ends), along with anF.P. Journeblack alligator strapand platinum buckle.

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