Resonance Quatre "RQ"

Let us share with you the captivating tale of F.P. Journe, a brand that exudes excellence and luxury in the world of horology. The journey of François-Paul Journe, the founder, began long before he established his own watch company in 1999. Born in the enchanting port city of Marseille, France in 1957, his passion for watchmaking was ignited in the cradle of France.

At the tender age of 14, he enrolled in a technical college and honed his skills. Years of hard work and dedication culminated in his graduation from the Paris watchmaking school in 1976. A mere two years later, Journe began working on his first tourbillon pocket watch, inspired by a George Daniels pocket watch that he had glimpsed on a client at his uncle's watchmaking studio. The master watchmaker would later be mentored by none other than the legendary George Daniels, the mastermind behind the Co-Axial Escapement.

At the age of 22, Journe was commissioned by Parisian ateliers P-G Brun to design a planetarium mechanism for Asprey in London. He worked tirelessly for seven years, and in 1983, he completed his first tourbillon pocket watch. He created the watch in his free time when he wasn't busy working for his uncle. François-Paul meticulously crafted every component of the watch, including the gold and silver case.

In 1985, Journe established his workshop where he created bespoke watches for collectors. A year later, F.P. Journe's first automatic chronometer pocket watch was born. This horological masterpiece housed a fusée chain and a five-second remontoire, along with a retrograde perpetual calendar and equation of time. In 1987, he crafted a planetary pocket watch that was commissioned by a collector.

Journe's skills and passion for watchmaking earned him several prestigious awards over the years. He received recognition from the Fondation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet pour la Vocation, the Watchmakers Convention in Madrid, the Institut l'Homme et le Temps' Gaia Award for the Best Watchmaker, and the Prix Spécial du Jury.

In 1989, F.P. Journe established a movement manufacturer in Switzerland, where they eventually settled in Geneva. In 1991, Journe crafted his first wristwatch, creating the entire movement out of 18k gold. Just a few years later, in 1996, he founded TIM SA, a manufacturer dedicated to developing exclusive calibers.

The Tourbillon Souverain was launched in 1999, along with the newly established Montres Journe SA. The watch was inscribed with the words "F.P. Journe – Invenit et Fecit," which translate to "invented and made," signifying that it was an original conception crafted by only the best of craftsmen.

F.P. Journe continued to grow, and by 2000, the manufacturer had 50 employees producing 3-4 watches per day. In 2001, Journe developed the Octa calibre, his first mechanical movement that was self-winding. He would also work on the Opus One collection for Harry Winston.

Journe's success continued, and in 2003, he opened his first boutique in the Omotesando district of Tokyo, a vibrant hub for culture and the arts. This was followed by a Hong Kong boutique in 2006 and the first European boutique in Geneva in 2007. Today, F.P. Journe has boutiques around the world, including in the United States, showcasing Journe's captivating timepieces.

In 2018, Chanel acquired a minority stake in F.P. Journe, further solidifying the brand's place in the luxury watch industry. Journe's legacy has also inspired other up-and-coming independent watchmakers, including Rexhep Rexhepi, who worked for F.P. Journe before founding his own independent brand, Akrivia.

As a watch expert, I am in awe of Journe's dedication and commitment to creating truly exceptional watches that stand the test of time. His innovative designs and impeccable craftsmanship make F.P. Journe a true icon in the world of luxury watches.

Understanding the Chronomètre à Résonance by F.P. Journe isn't a walk in the park. It demands a willingness to suspend some of our conventional beliefs about engineering, acoustics, and watchmaking. The concept of resonance, in particular, may seem like a magic trick backed by fancy scientific terms like "harmonic oscillation." It claims to enhance a watch's precision, which can trigger skepticism in many.

Resonance in watchmaking traces its roots to Abraham-Louis Breguet and Antide Janvier in the 18th century. Contemporary watchmakers like F.P. Journe, Armin Strom, Beat Haldimann, and Vianney Halter have all explored its application in wristwatches. F.P. Journe, inspired by Breguet and Janvier, pioneered his system of resonance, creating a unique pocket watch in 1983 and releasing the first wristwatch with resonance in 2000 through a souscription series.

The Chronomètre à Résonance has become F.P. Journe's defining work, solidifying his reputation as a brilliant horological thinker. Although the original series was retired in 2019 after two decades, Journe continued to innovate.

In 2020, a new version of the Chronomètre à Résonance was introduced. Two years later, I had the opportunity to explore it at the F.P. Journe manufacture in Geneva's Old Town.

Resonance in Watchmaking:
Resonance is a common phenomenon in our daily lives, from a child on a swing to a guitar's strings. In watchmaking, it involves two oscillators working alongside each other. These oscillators gradually synchronize, correcting rate deviations by exchanging energy and ensuring precision.

Unlike some resonance systems with mechanically coupled oscillators, Journe's approach doesn't require a physical connection. It is believed that subtle vibrations from the beating balances travel through the dial's baseplate, engaging with each other and achieving synchronization.

Two challenges for this approach are the initial adjustment of oscillators' frequencies and maintaining amplitude to sustain resonance. F.P. Journe addressed these in the latest Chronomètre à Résonance.

What's New:
The 2020 update brought a new resonance movement, Caliber 1520, to the Chronomètre à Résonance. While it resembles its predecessor, it features significant changes. The movement bridges are crafted from solid rose gold, maintaining Journe's signature style. However, Caliber 1520's architecture underwent a complete overhaul.

Unlike the previous generation, it now has a single mainspring barrel hidden beneath the rose gold mainplate. It delivers energy to two gear trains and synchronized balances. Individual remontoirs d'égalité on each gear train control energy transfer at one-second intervals, ensuring consistent amplitude as the mainspring relaxes over time.

These remontoirs act as constant force mechanisms, enhancing precision, efficiency, and reliability for up to 28 hours of isochronous action within the 48-hour power reserve.

The case profile also received updates, moving the 12 o'clock crown to the two o'clock position, complementing the original four o'clock crown.

The dial maintains symmetry with two stacked registers, one featuring a 24-hour display and the other a 12-hour display. A new opening in the center exposes the differential that distributes energy between the opposing gear trains.

Operational note: The two crowns are not labeled, but the two o'clock crown winds the movement and sets the time for both hour-and-minute dials, while the four o'clock crown resets the small seconds displays and synchronizes the twin oscillators.

Final Thoughts:
Appreciating a watch like the Chronomètre à Résonance requires intellectual engagement and patience. It's not about quick thrills; it's about understanding the craftsmanship and horological history it represents.

Comparing it to an average automatic dive watch can make one feel inadequate. The fascination with resonance, while intriguing, may seem far-fetched. Still, considering the high prices achieved by Chronomètre à Résonance models at auctions, it's evident that collectors highly value these timepieces.

Recent auctions saw different Chronomètre à Résonance models fetching significant sums. This includes a first-generation model from 1999, a current-generation model from 2021, and a limited-edition mid-2000s piece with a black mother-of-pearl dial. The similar values assigned to these diverse models may seem puzzling but emphasize the enduring appeal of the Chronomètre à Résonance.