Independent watchmaker
F.P. Journe
Also recorded as: F. P. Journe · FP Journe · François-Paul Journe · Francois-Paul Journe · F.P.Journe
François-Paul Journe's Geneva manufacture, signed 'Invenit et Fecit' — he invented it and made it — and known for resonance, remontoire and chiming wristwatches.
François-Paul Journe was born in Marseille in 1957 and trained at the watchmaking school in Paris before working in his uncle's restoration workshop, where he studied the work of Breguet and the great Paris makers. He completed his first tourbillon pocket watch in 1983 and for more than a decade made complicated pieces to order, for private clients and for other firms.
In 1999 he founded his own brand in Geneva with the Tourbillon Souverain, a wristwatch tourbillon with a constant-force remontoire and deadbeat seconds. The Chronomètre à Résonance of 2000 used two balances that synchronise through resonance, a phenomenon studied by Antide Janvier and Breguet; later pieces include the Octa automatic series and the Sonnerie Souveraine chiming watch. Every watch carries the motto 'Invenit et Fecit', and the house makes most of its own movements, cases and dials.
- Country
- Switzerland (founder born in France)
- City / centre
- Geneva
- Founded
- 1999
- Status
- Active (independent)
- Key people
- François-Paul Journe (b. 1957)
Innovations & specialities
- Tourbillon Souverain with remontoire and deadbeat seconds (1999)
- Chronomètre à Résonance wristwatch with two resonating balances (2000)
- Octa series of automatic calibres
- Sonnerie Souveraine grande and petite sonnerie
Timeline
- 1957François-Paul Journe born in Marseille
- 1983First tourbillon pocket watch
- 1999Brand founded in Geneva; Tourbillon Souverain
- 2000Chronomètre à Résonance
Works by F.P. Journe in the catalogue
All 17 records →
Wristwatches · 2002
F.P. Journe Octa Reserve de Marche Brass, 2002
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2003
F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance 'Brass Movement', 2003
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 2003
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Brass, 2003
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2010s
F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain PT 40mm Silver Guilloche, 2010s
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2012
F.P. Journe Résonance "Parking Meter" 18K RG (Ref. RT) Grey Dial, 2012
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · 2013
F.P. Journe Chronometre A Resonance Black Label, 2013
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2014
F.P. Journe Chronometre Optimum, 2014
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2016
F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain 10th Anniversary Boutique Edition 'Hong Kong', 2016
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2017
F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain, 2017
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2019
F.P. Journe Chronométre Souverain Boutique Edition, 2019
Analog/Shift (dealer), New York
Wristwatches · 2020
F.P. Journe Elegante 48 Titalyt, 2020
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Wristwatches · 2023
F.P. Journe Automatique Lune Havana PT 42mm, 2023
S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle
Linked through the Atlas maker authority list, which reconciles the spellings used by different institutions. Attributions are as stated by each holding institution or auction house.
