Horological Meandering

Hi All, Some of you will remember my first F.P. Journe review in August 2010. That basic Octa Rèserve de Marche has since become my favourite watch and rarely leaves my wrist (and is missed when it does). But the grail F.P.Journe tourbillon was never far ...  

think we are horo-kindred spirits when it comes to the Journes!! Coincidentally i am wearing mine as well. and i so understand how you feel, and the choice of this version versus the the more "steampunk and industrious"(your words) version 1. thks for thi... 

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Thanks John, I know you love the mechanical side and it’s the mechanical complexity of this piece that appeals to me. Even with the watch in front of me (and I have stared at it for hours) I find it difficult to understand exactly how that Remontoir... 

Andrew, I really enjoyed reading about your FPJ Tourbillon story. The dream, the chase, the event! It really is your dream come true and I'm really happy for you. The Journe tourbillon you have is indeed one of the most beautifully designed tourbillons ou... 

That feeling resonates strongly with me! A brilliant post which does this fantastic watch justice. I am very glad you could achieve this dream and thank you for the vicarious pleasure - best Andreas

. . . says it all ;-) . . .

Thanks Andreas, I really appreciate your support and I know we will have a side-by side shot of our Journe tourbillons one day. Looking forward to it already! Andrew

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A beautiful, fascinating, and very serious watch. Very happy for you. And it was great to 'meet' it in person recently… grumio

As I said before, great choice of blue strap. - SJX

There is everything in it that makes me go gaga, Platinum 950 case, case size at 40mm, pin buckle crafted of platinum, hand wound, DOUBLE dark blue crocodile, mamma mia! Enjoy it over the tops,please! Cheers Stephen

Well Stephen, it was probably your early scribblings on platinum that caught my attention. While I don’t like heavy watches per se, the additional heft in the Octa RdM (a relatively small 38x10mm) really added to the pleasure on the wrist. The tourb...  

... after reading this, i am with you even more to confirm it is the best piece for you. i am fortunate to meet you here and tried this lovely baby on my wrist, can feel the same joy as you have and really happy with you. by the way, the watch matches ver... 

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Thanks for sharing them with us. I think you've made some great selections for your collection and these watches feel very much like "you." The pictures say it all! Cheers, Daos

An interesting pair … Thanks Daos, pleased you like both of them. Actually the sum of these two watches is greater than the ownership experience of any one piece for me. Together I find the watches very interesting, not just because they are aesthetically...  

although a much shorter one than expected (although much more pleasurable for it)! Thanks for taking us through it and it is a very well kept piece you found. I also find your thoughts on the differences in the 2 pieces in the decade or so that separates ... 

It looks like a great watch; also achievement (ahead of schedule) of a major goal. Wear it in the best of health.

… at school couldn’t be trusted. You will be handling the DS with cloves on! Actually the case is perfect at the moment. I am wearing it very often, and I know the first scratches will come, but it’s part of life and I will cope. I think... 

great when a journey is rewarded? Although I am not particularly attracted to tourbillons, this is an exception... I have seen it in metal and it is captivating.... Journe is, in my opinion, a watch for connoisseurs, appreciated for the movements, dials a... 

Agreed. The proliferation of single-axis tourbillons in recent years has taken the shine of this particular movement sophistication. But the F.P.Journe is a little different. It’s the combination of factors – dead seconds, remontoir, and the l... 

Thanks a lot Andrew for this great post ! Fx

and not just a compilation of compounded complications - CCC - with each struggling to survive and gain attention for itself, against the others upon a dial face. Not here ... Where everything works and makes sense together - and is sooo beautiful! Cheers... 

A stunning piece! You might even say drop DEAD gorgeous! Love the hands on FPJ! Some how they remind me of the hands on this one… Care to make a guess? I give you a hint… Best Blomman...  

You picked a winner! That's one of my all time favourite Journes. Wear it proud and in the best of health.

F.P. Journe has a new member for their fanclub. Their watches are so beautiful, they have a unique style that I like and is unlike any other watch company. Congrats again Andrew! I congratulated you when you first got it in a previous post. That was when ... 

... is a topic for another thread. And if my wife ever gets wind of it, I'm a dead man. I had to make promises like you wouldn't believe to get this watch! If we are still talking F.P.Journe, the obvious next steps are to move away from the Pt case to a R... 

thts on my radar too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! best, Horo

One of the highlights of the acquisition was taking delivery of the watch in person at the Hong Kong F.P.Journe Boutique with Brad Schwartz who was instrumental in the process. What better than to share the excitement with a fellow Journe-o-phile? I left ...  

up of us watch nerds!! Julian

And they served you breakfast at the boutique?! Seriously though, it's clear how much attention you paid to your eggs and bacon.

Congrats on this wonderful piece. And to mirror others, I can read the joy your piece.

Sincerely happy for your dream come true. There is nothing better then to see the day when felow Purist get his grail on wrist. Still remember all the roll calls and what is your grail posts as well as if you can have only one or your dream watch is topic... 

Thanks for your kind wishes, Damjan. Yes, the Journe Tourbillon Souveraine has been a consistent goal for many years, and I am wearing it as I reply to you. I looked back and found a couple of posts on grail watches where I had mentioned it: August 2008 .... 

as worthy as the post. That Dead Seconds is drop dead fantastic in more ways than I have time to comment. Interesting to me is what's not in your photos but so clearly present -- the smile on your face from ear to ear! I swear I cannot help but see it, ev... 

post: personal observations & thoughts, friendship, great pictures and lots of p a s s i o n inside! Andew, you made my day. Thanks! Oliver

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For such a beautifully crafted article. Your photos do both your pieces full justice.

Thanks Topcat, While I tried to capture some of the life and personality in the watches, I have always found that Journe's look better in the metal. It's the volume and proportions of the case, the polished screwed steel frame that catches the light and p... 

The most beautiful F.P.Journe, congratulations!

... you have rather excellent taste in Journe's yourself and I appreciate that very much. Regards Andrew

That is one of the best tourbillon displays I have seen. Is it a one minute tourbillon? I realize the tourbillon is not being used for the seconds funtion due to the dead seconds mechanism, just wondering about the speed of rotation. Congratulations! I kn... 

... with a few modifications. The Cal. 1403 in the Dead Second Tourbillon had the 'pointer' removed from the tourbillon cage (see images), and a new tourbillon bridge (cock is the correct term). In addition there were a few other changes from the original...  

I felt in love with the first version when I saw it at the Basel fair in 1999 or 2000, and the feeling, I think, it's gonna last forever. Wonderful machine. Congrats on that beauty. Thanks for sharing. Vte