Last Monday, the F.P.Journe boutique in Paris organized an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the support and commitment of the brand with the ICM (Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, the Brain and Spine Institute). The ICM is a private fundation which receives financial support from private funds or governemental partners. Located inside the Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital area, its aim is to gather the forces of more than forty different research teams by favoriting the skills pooling. In order to select and grow the best research teams, an international scientific committee was put in place to detect the top talents. The patients, doctors and researchers arte brought together in this unique place to facilitate both basic and clinical research and to shorten the delay between research and therapy.

But what is the connection between F.P.Journe and the ICM?

Actually, the story began 10 years ago, in April 2004 when a watch produced in 3 pieces was put on an auction process to celebrate Antiquorum 30th anniversary and whose revenues were remitted to ICM. Beyond the will from François-Paul Journe to support such Institute, there was the strong relationship and the friendship between the French watchmaker and Jean Todt who was at that time at the head of the Scuderia Ferrari and Vice-Chairman of the ICM. François-Paul Journe described him his project to create the perfect chronograph dedicated to the world of motor races. Then this project came to reality and the Centigraphe was born in 2008 with its key feature: its ability to measure the 1/100th of second intervals.  The watch was then awarded with the Aiguille d'Or at the GPHG.

The financial involvement of F.P.Journe is based on this very specific watch: 30% of the profit is forwarded to the ICM for each Centigraphe sold. To give you an estimate of this involvement, more than 525 Centigraphe (both Souverain or Sport) contributed to make the ICM researchs progress. I can tell you that for a brand like a F.P.Journe which produces more or less 800/900 watches per year, it is a very significant support.

The event took place in a very friendly and respectful atmosphere  More than the celebration by itself, its objective was to remind to the attendees the missions of the Institute and the latest achievements. In addition of the presence of François-Paul Journe, the guests had the opportunity to meet and discuss with the Professor Gérard Saillant, Chairman of the ICM, Jean Todt, Vice-Chairman and Jean-Pierre Martel, lawyer and one of the founders of the Institute.

The boutique entrance was decorated with the ICM logo:

Did you spot the superb Tourbillon with a Jade dial? And what about the Optimum on the foreground? I will come back to these watches later.

Ten years ago, the beginning of the commitment with the ICM... a long path was covered since then. It was a true pleasure for the guests to be able to spend an evening with some of these personalities who ignited this impressive project. The picture below was taken in 2008 during the foundation stone ceremony of the building who is housing now the Institute.