F.P. Journe Dominates Phillips New York Auction with $13,922,000 Record and Multiple Million-Dollar Results

Image source: www.phillips.com

The Record-Breaking Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription No. 007

The Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription series represents one of the earliest examples of François-Paul Journe's work with resonance technology. The model uses two movements and two balances operating in resonance, a concept closely associated with Journe's watchmaking.

A prototype was created in 1998, while serial production began in 2000. The watches were offered through a subscription programme and reserved for collectors who had previously purchased the Souscription Tourbillon, the first wristwatch produced by François-Paul Journe.

Only 20 examples were created. Five were housed in bi-metal cases combining platinum and rose gold. Of those five, three featured silver dials, while two received rose gold dials. The record-setting example sold in New York belonged to the latter group.

Its final price of $13,922,000 made it the undisputed highlight of the auction.

Tourbillon Souverain Anniversaire "Hong Kong"

One of the strongest results after the Résonance came from the Tourbillon Souverain Anniversaire "Hong Kong", which sold for $4,355,000 against an estimate of $600,000 to $1.2 million.

The watch is the first of only five examples created to celebrate the first anniversary of the F.P. Journe boutique in Hong Kong. It features a titanium case combined with rose gold elements, including the crown, hands and buckle.

The model belongs to a special series of titanium anniversary editions dedicated to F.P. Journe boutiques in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Geneva and Boca Raton.

Tourbillon Anniversaire Historique "T30"

Another major result was achieved by the Tourbillon Anniversaire Historique "T30", which realised $2,032,000.

The model commemorates the 30th anniversary of the creation of François-Paul Journe's first pocket watch featuring a tourbillon. The example offered by Phillips was number 93 of a limited series of 99 pieces.

Its result significantly exceeded the pre-sale estimate of $600,000 to $1.2 million.

Octa Chronographe "Swiss FineTiming"

The Octa Chronographe "Swiss FineTiming" also performed exceptionally well. One example sold for $2,032,000, while another achieved $1,968,500.

The model was produced in a limited series of just eight pieces for Swiss FineTiming, the Chicago-based F.P. Journe retailer.

Both examples comfortably surpassed their respective estimates.

Other Standout F.P. Journe Results

Several additional F.P. Journe models delivered strong performances throughout the sale.

The Octa Chronographe "38MM", dating from 2006, sold for $711,200 against an estimate of $80,000 to $160,000. When the model was introduced in 2001, it became the first wristwatch chronograph to combine an automatic movement, a large date display, a flyback chronograph function and a 120-hour power reserve. The example offered at Phillips was one of only 35 Octa Chronographe watches fitted with a rose gold movement and originally sold through Orologeria Pisa, an Italian F.P. Journe boutique.

A platinum Centigraphe Souverain from approximately 2011 achieved $482,000. The model is distinguished by its unconventional chronograph display featuring a 20-second counter, a 10-minute counter and a hundredths-of-a-second display. Rather than traditional pushers, the chronograph is operated via an ergonomic rocker switch positioned between two and three o'clock.

An Octa Automatique Lune "Nacre" sold for $482,600. Combining elements of the Automatique Réserve and Octa Lune, the boutique edition features a mother-of-pearl dial. Only eight examples are known to have been produced between 2008 and 2017. The example offered at Phillips dates from approximately 2014.

Another boutique edition, the Chronomètre Souverain "Nacre", achieved $508,000. Produced around 2021, the watch combines blue-white mother-of-pearl with a traditional Clous de Paris guilloché pattern and is housed in a 40 mm platinum case.

An Octa Réserve de Marche from 2004 sold for $406,400. The watch was originally purchased by its first owner from an F.P. Journe retailer in Turkey. It is notable for its brass movement. Of the approximately 45 brass-movement Octa Réserve de Marche examples that have appeared at auction, only eight were cased in rose gold.

The diamond-set Élégante 40 "Platinum" completed the list of standout results. Produced between 2014 and 2021, the model features F.P. Journe's electro-mechanical movement, which can enter standby mode to conserve energy. The standby period can last for up to 18 months. When reactivated, the hands automatically advance to the correct time using the shortest possible route. The example sold at Phillips achieved $355,600.

A Remarkable Sale for Independent Watchmaking

The Phillips auction confirmed the continuing strength of the market for exceptional F.P. Journe timepieces. From the record-setting Chronomètre à Résonance Souscription No. 007 to a series of rare boutique editions and anniversary models, the sale demonstrated strong interest in some of the most collectible references produced by the independent watchmaker.

Alongside the impressive results achieved by Kari Voutilainen, whose four watches each surpassed the $1 million mark, the New York auction highlighted the continued prominence of independent watchmakers at the highest level of the auction market.