Weekly Watch Photo: F.P. Journe Special Edition for France/China 50th Anniversary

At Monochrome Watches we’re always on the look-out for new high-end timepieces. Lately we’ve spend quite some time, studying everything that F.P. Journe has been doing. And we have to admit that the brand is becoming one of our favorites. When looking at his timepieces, you can’t deny the beauty that intrigues us: creativity, independence, amazing quality, and complicated movements. All the key elements that we, at Monochrome Watches, love so much. Recently we already showed you the Chronomètre Optimum and the Centigraphe Souverain. And we wanted to use our Weekly Watch Photo column to present you, with gorgeous photos of two new watches made for the 50th anniversary of the France-China relationship. Open your eyes and enjoy the show. 

F.P. Journe has been chosen to be the official watchmaker of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between France and China, in order to represent the excellence of the traditional Haute Horlogerie. Even if his watches are made in Geneva, François-Paul Journe claims his French origins and wanted to be part of that commemorative events. The first model presented is a special edition the Octa Lune.

Part of the self-winding watches collection – the Octa collection – it comes in a 40 mm platinum case with a French blue dial, made of solid white gold. For this watch, F.P. Journe uses a new technique. The dial is first embossed to create all the reliefs (sub-dials, date and moon phase windows, indexes) and painted in blue. Then the numbers are polished to a mirror finish, to reveal the white gold. The self-winding movement, with an off-centrered rotor, is hand finished with polished beveled angles, circular graining and Geneva stripes. The bridges and plates are made of pink gold, as always with F.P. Journe. It features a moon phase, a big date and an impressive 120-hour power reserve; the height of the entire watch is just 10 mm. The logo of the commemorative event is discreetly embossed next to the brand’s name. And with such nice photos, the Octa Lune is as beautiful in color as in monochromatic tones.

If blue is the perfect representation of France, Jade is the most emblematic Chinese gemstone. And that’s the material used by F.P. Journe in the dial of this second watch. We are not used to talk about lady’s watch at Monochrome Watches, but we have to admit that the translucent light green dial in this platinum and diamonds case is working great. As a first attempt for a feminine watch, the ‘Elegante’ is a pretty good one. Gentleman, don’t show this article to your wives, they could develop a crush on it.

These watches are actually visible at F.P. Journe Paris and will make a tour through China in several events. More information on www.fpjourne.com. Thank you to David Carteron/Delos Communication for the amazing photos.