CR
[Moderator]
4018
So true! And yet none of that matters with art (vs. reliable mechanical instruments) -- part of my own "journe-y" (pun intended).
The present FPJ market reflects the art world, not the horology world. I experienced a similar personal transition with the brand about 10 years ago.
But increasingly, I felt like I was missing out -- that I needed to experience this near-certain disappointment and frustration firsthand, to see how I'd handle it, because certain FPJ pieces were so aesthetically compelling to me.
I ultimately decided to try some preowned FPJ pieces that I really liked, knowing how frustrating the road ahead might be.
Setting my expectations low was a good move because those expectations proved commensurate with my lived experience. My Octa Calendrier went back for servicing 6-7 times in the first 18 months I owned it, and a newly serviced Octa Perpetuelle also went back once (maybe twice?). The owner of a large preowned dealership who sold me one of these watches said this to me, which was both funny and true: "Treat this watch like a condo in Florida. Enjoy it for 6 months of the year, and don't worry about it during the other 6 months, when it's being serviced." I'll never forget his comment because it was also helpful advice.
This experience with FPJ calendar watches was transformative. I had never been in a relationship with a watch brand that was so attractive and yet so unreliable (the anthropomorphic language is intentional and apt here, as is the phrase, "it's complicated" when referring to these calendar pieces). I was faced with this question. Do I view these FPJ pieces in the same way that I view pieces from the larger brands that I liked (Omega, Rolex, Lange, etc.) -- that is, with the minimal expectation that a modern watch must be a reliable, functional, mechanical device? Or do I see these FPJ pieces more like art -- like a mechanical sculpture in a public park that behaves a bit differently every time it's actuated?
In the end, I made the cognitive shift from "reliable, functional, mechanical device" to "art" -- the shift that allowed me to continue to tolerate and enjoy owning these pieces.
Fast-forward to the present. In September of this year, I brought 3 infrequently worn watches (1 Chopard, 1 Lange, 1 FPJ) to a collectors' event. Guess which one stopped running at that event? Yes, of course, the Octa Calendrier. It's being serviced right now. And when I eventually get it back, assuming it keeps time fine (which it will), I'll just smile the first time I see the familiar retrograde date hang up -- when the date indicator doesn't properly jump all the way back to "1" during manual setting. Because hey, it's just art, and I love it and appreciate it for that alone.
about 11 million
It was to be expected that this one would become expensive… but still, heading towards 11 million is just insane. Well, it’s no surprise that the Chronomètre Bleu now easily goes for 150–200K. It’s only a fraction of the Coppola, but on the other hand it ...
I was watching.
And I was at the preview earlier this week. The sentiment around Journe was incredibly positive. The expectations for all Journe lots in the auction were very very high. And it proved right. When a non mechanical watch, of which many many thousands exist,...
agree ... CB is around 50 pieces per year I believe
used to be around 100 per year but I believe they reduced that since a couple of years.
for a watch that was his entry level watch 15 years ago
strange how things do change It started as an entry-level watch to make the brand more accessible at a time when the economy was doing poorly. And now it’s extremely hard to get. It’s just weird... like Patek only selling the Aquanaut to VIPs ... You need...
I think it was a very well thought out move in a situation where you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t….
He had no hand in the fact that it suddenly became a hot ticket - and the only one people suddenly wanted in many cases. Instead of doing what Patek did and mistreating it like the Nautilus ad Aquanaut like they really have (while stating the opposite), I...
Don’t know about you guys but the CB is still my favourite Journe and favourite watch.
I do wish however it was not commanding these prices as this removes the ability to freely enjoy the watch. Traveling, wearing it every day, as I did a lot ten years ago, was even then a little nerve racking (it was a $23k watch back then). But I did it, ...
I was contemplating....
if I should slide to bid 🤣 Then decided that maybe this one is better (can fund all 20 of them, with some spare change): ...
The 'problem' is not the price being paid for this timepiece, or for rare artwork, important automobiles, etc,....... the problem is the currencies.
Not sure if many realize that just yet in 2025, tho quite a few do and are swapping out their currency. Exchanging currency for items of intrinsic value is best right now imho. Truly hope whomever purchased this FPJ gives it back to FFC. It's his timepiec...
This has been going on for quite a while with real estate, it seems...
...and I've seen some truly terrible paintings go for millions...you're right...it's another form of currency. Also a good way to keep your cash out of the bank where a government can't get to it...
Rich people doing rich people stuff...
...maybe they'll make it back and more years from now. Barnum was correct...
Incredible result for this one and as for the rest of the Journe pieces!
It’s overwhelming but I’m not that surprised. My personal guess was 8-10 million considering the provenance of this one. It’s a unique story, a unique collaboration and a unique watch. Congratulations to the buyer.
I wouldn’t have expected this but…
It is a prototype of the FCC that was owned by FCC himself. Making it really a one off and special, especially if you’re a fan of FCC. However I’m sorry but a CB is not a $155k watch not now not ever. I remember when dealers were begging me to buy that wa...
What I’m saying is that I think people are getting caught up in the craze.
Subjectively I’ve had that watch and it was nice but even when I was buying it at $13-15k that was the value of that watch. I’m not new to Journe was collecting them when they were 30 cents on the dollar so I’ve had more than a few that I’ve owned. Now I ...
It was this site and others where I’d read FPJ user reviews and opinions
Reliability issues, quality woes, finishing put downs, pieces perpetually boomeranging to the service centre, movement hiccups, leading to collectors giving up on their whole FPJ collection. Who would not have skepticism after reading all that?? But then ...
Oh I remember..
Remember when the annual calendar was notorious for counting beyond 31 days? I remember when I sent my tourb and resonance in for service and asked the boutique manager to request that they set my watch to run a few seconds fast vs slow as I don’t like sl...
Years ago, shortly after the quartz Elegante came out (and many early owners reported that it didn't reset properly when picked up) ...
... I considered making an April Fool's Day post here saying that FPJ had just announced a limited edition series of boutique-only pacemakers. I refrained, though I remain grateful that this incredibly talented watchmaker -- a true genius -- opted to not ...
So true! And yet none of that matters with art (vs. reliable mechanical instruments) -- part of my own "journe-y" (pun intended).
The present FPJ market reflects the art world, not the horology world. I experienced a similar personal transition with the brand about 10 years ago. Like many here, I knew plenty of collectors who enthusiastically got into the brand and then swore it off...
Wow, thank you for your sharing and your reflections!
Did you ever imagine that FPJ would be so coveted by the market/collectors? Does it feel like the risk you took, trusting your gut, also your eye for design and taste in art has been recognized and validated? I only ask....because to be very honest, deep ...
"Risk" and "trusting my gut" weren't relevant.
It's more like I was conducting an experiment, and one that was relatively risk-free. There was no cognitive or emotional risk because I knew exactly what I was getting into regarding the reliability issues (my eyes were wide open there), and there was no...
Do you mind if we continue in PM?
Just for privacy, in regards to collecting direction.
I do wonder...
if the reliability issues were an impetus to the 20% chanel stake in 2018
CB for $13k.... i remember that. Patek Philippe WorldTime for $13k, with the 5167 being $17k and FEW wanted them. How about $10k for a Patek Nautilus, they were WIDELY available too.
What we may be experiencing is typical herd mentality in a Big Box Store brand toward only the herd's 'hot' models, even if they are mass-produced, like a Labubu for the doll industry or a Patek Philippe in the watch industry. FPJ only makes about 1000 ti...
One one hand....
Who am I to throw shade on this auction result? It's merely a seller and buyers chasing a one-of-a-kind watch. Same for the CB, although not one-of-a-kind -- merely *relatively* rare compared to higher production pieces. Same for other Journe pieces. On t...
Sorry folks but this is what happens when they create so much money out of nothing and that Billionaires abound they have to put their worthless FIAT Money into something.
As for ever getting their money out again that really is IMO doubtful the changes are now starting to come so fast and the disruption AI and AGI are bringing in are going to change the world in ways no one is really ready for IMHO. It is either going to l...
Don’t really understand the attraction of FPJ. I recently visited the London boutique and got to handle a couple of CS. I was thoroughly underwhelmed and I thought the movement finishing was poor - even at RRP let alone grey.
And then there’s folks complaining about Patek or VC not finishing their watches up to the standard of the highest-tier independents 😅
