With 50 watches to select from within the Solely Watch 2019 lineup, standing out in a crowd that dimension takes some doing. Probably the most well-received items comes from F.P. Journe. As a prototype for a brand new, hyper-complicated mannequin, the F.P. Journe Astronomic Blue watch can also be estimated to fetch one of many highest sums at this 12 months’s public sale, as a result of be held on November ninth, in Geneva, and officiated by Christie’s.
F.P. Journe and the Solely Watch public sale have an extended historical past. This 12 months marks the third contribution by the famed Swiss maker. Supporting the Monegasque Affiliation in opposition to Muscular dystrophy, which raises funds for analysis into Duchene Muscular dystrophy is clearly crucial to a model that has persistently impressed with its choices since its first look within the Solely Watch public sale catalog again in 2015.
A Popularity to Preserve
The final two items from F.P. Journe, the Tourbillon Souveraine Bleu watch (2015), and the F.P. Journe Cut up-Seconds Chronograph, tantalum case (2017), have been each stellar efforts. However this 12 months, Journe has taken issues to the following stage. The F.P. Journe Astronomic Blue watch combines a complete host of capabilities (the variety of issues on this watch is in double figures) and packs all of them right into a surprisingly wearable 44mm case crafted from tantalum (a seldom-used, however very arduous metallic that the model has used earlier than for its Solely Watch items).
So let’s run by the Astronomic Blue’s options. Beginning with the only of its many capabilities, the F.P. Journe Astronmoic blue tells the time, though it doesn’t accomplish that in a standard style. The sub-dial at three o’clock accommodates not one, however two hour palms. Certainly one of these hour palms is rose gold in shade, whereas the opposite is heat-treated blue. The blue hand is taken into account the second timezone hand, whereas the rose hand is meant to tie-in with the rose gold minute hand, which is mounted centrally within the conventional location. The seconds are displayed through a sunken, numbered disc that pokes out from the southeast quadrant of the 9 o’clock sub-dial.
The seconds disc is mirrored fantastically by a moon part complication that nestles in opposition to the underside left nook of the three o’clock sub-dial. Between these two peekaboo issues, the ability reserve is situated. Amazingly, regardless of driving so many issues, the handbook wind prototype caliber 1619 in 18kt rose gold has a satisfactory energy reserve of 42 hours, generated by twin barrels.
On the second sub-dial at 9 o’clock, the hours and the minutes of sidereal time are displayed on a 24-hour dial. To go together with this attention-grabbing, however relatively esoteric operate, the watch options an Equation of Time indicator on the again. This exhibits the distinction in minutes between Earth time and Photo voltaic time. Indicated by a hand, the Equation of Time show is an attention-grabbing but not often relied upon operate.
Again From The Future
The again of the watch additionally holds extra treats in retailer. An annual calendar operate with a zodiacal indicator encircles the motion. The proper day, month, and star signal are indicated by an exquisite little blue pointer that hugs the size.
By the case again one may also see the (nearly compulsory) one-minute tourbillon, and an attention-grabbing remontoire d’egalité designed to even out the power delivered from the mainspring to the escapement (to make sure correct timekeeping). Moreover, this watch incorporates a deadbeat seconds complication, which is all the time a superb dialog starter for these attempting to get their heads across the nuances of watchmaking.
Returning to the dial aspect of the watch, the F.P. Journe Astronomic Blue additionally has a twin day/evening, dawn/sundown indicator at 12 o’clock, that is ready to present when the solar will rise and set because of moveable shutters that widen or slender the curved aperture by which the “sky” is considered.
Conclusion
Contemplating the sheer quantity of capabilities, the watch is definitely fairly slim, measuring simply 13.75mm thick. Given the comparatively broad diameter, this watch will most likely not seem too unwieldy on the wrist. However even when it did, it appears unlikely the wearer could be ashamed to be observed. The blue chrome dial marries excellently with the orange alligator strap, which is fitted with an ardillon buckle constituted of tantalum. And to maintain the silhouette clear, Journe has one way or the other managed to make all of those capabilities controllable with a single crown at three o’clock. Though for these of you who observed the slider on the left-hand aspect of the case, your suspicions are appropriate: This watch is, fairly astoundingly, additionally a minute repeater.
F.P. Journe watches have some severe pedigree on the Solely Watch auctions. The 2015 iteration bought for CHF 550,000, whereas the 2017 F.P. Journe Cut up-Seconds Chronograph introduced in an unlimited CHF 1,500,000. This 12 months, the F.P. Journe Astronomic Blue watch is slated to make $300,000-$600,000, making it one of the crucial valued items on the present. Study extra about this and different mind-bending timepieces at fpjourne.com.
