PROPERTY FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER
Year: Circa 2015
Case No: 27/38-A
Model Name: Octa Réserve de Marche, 38mm Steel Set
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1300.3, 37 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel F.P. Journe deployant clasp
The Octa Réserve de Marche holds an auspicious place in F.P Journe's oeuvre as the brand's first selfwinding wristwatch. Produced between 2001 to 2014, the debutants were first fitted with the brass cal. 1300, before transitioning to a more opulent pink gold movement in 2004.
A quintessential Journe creation, the present Octa Réserve de Marche is no ordinary example. Numbered 27 of a limited edition of 38 pieces, this timepiece is exclusively armoured in stainless steel and is a part of the boxset that marked the end of an era, where 38mm cases made their final appearance in the F.P. Journe catalogue in 2015. The case is made distinctive by its seamless and sensual curves, along with the watchmaker’s signature flat crown embellished with a rope-like grip.
Aesthetically majestic, the dial shines on its own, boasting a softly grained yellow gold canvas, paired with elegant blued steel hands and the iconic stand-alone silver guilloché dial for the hours and minutes. Between 8 and 9 o’clock is a power reserve indicator, with a large date aperture above, highlighting F.P Journe's principle of "invention and manufacture." Every element, even auxiliary functions, fulfils a rationale aligned with its creator's vision.
At its core lies the revolutionary cal. 1300.3, the movement that laid the foundation for F.P Journe's automatic complications. Its ingenious architecture allows complications such as the annual calendar and flyback chronograph to smoothly integrate into the modest 38mm case, while powering an unmatched 120-hour power reserve, without drastic augmentations.
Destined to be collected by passionate connoisseurs of the brand, the present stainless steel Octa Réserve de Marche, numbered 27 of a limited edition of 38 pieces, conjures an alluring blend of technical prowess, refined aesthetics and exceptional rarity. It embodies the artistic ethos that animated F.P Journe's genius - one that values technical innovation over ostentation. Furthermore, it is extremely rare for luxury watches to be encased in steel and other watches from the set, including the Tourbillon Souverain, the Octa Calendrier, the Chronomètre Souverain and the Chronomètre à Résonance are all available in our current auction.