F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu, circa 2016 Very fine and rare, tantalum chronometer wristwatch and a tantalum F.P. Journe buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box, warranty card and instruction booklet.
Case: Two-body, solid, polished, concave lugs, transparent case back with 6 screws, sapphire crystals made in tantalum.
Dial: Blue polished with painted radial off white Arabic numerals with subsidiary seconds dial, off white Journe hands.
Movement: Cal. F.P. Journe 1304 in 18K pink gold, fausses cotes decoration, 22 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic 4-arm balance adjusted to 6 positions with 4 eccentric timing weights, shock absorber, self-compensating freesprung flat balance spring, twin barrels, gold wheel train. Dial, case and movement signed.
Diameter: 40 mm. Thickness: 8.5 mm.
Accompanied by fitted box, warranty card, manual and cleaning cloth.
Circa 2016 Still under warranty
More about F.P. Journe
François-Paul Journe introduced the Chronomètre Bleu in 2009. The watch is the entry level watch in his collection but also the most unique. The case is made of tantalum, a unique metal as heavy as platinum and extremely hard which makes it very difficult to machine. Tantalum is a dark grey metal which has a bluish tone. Furthermore, among FP Journe offerings, the size is unique. At 39mm it is now the smallest offering from the manufacture.
The watch has an incredible iridescent blue dial which is made in house by FP Journe. It is the most complicated dial made by the Manufacture. The chrome blue color is obtained from multiple layers of blue lacquer, applied by hand and each polished to a mirror finish before the next one is applied. As you can see from the photos, the dial changes color tone from a very dark midnight blue to a "Klein" blue depending on how light reflects on it.
The movement fitted on the Chronomètre Bleu is the 1304, a calibre which is fitted on the Chronomètre Souverain, a similar watch offered in Platinum and Pink Gold with a power reserve at a much higher price point. A movement made entirely in Gold with a double barrel 56 hour power reserve and an invisible gear train.
Our watch was purchased at a Boutique in 2016 and has another year and half of warranty, it is in like new condition and comes with all accessories. With its long waiting list at boutique and retailers it is a rare opportunity to grab one immediately.