Pre-Owned F.P. Journe F.P.Journe Octa Lune 40991701/AS09193

No one will fault you for wearing a Rolex around here. But if you want something truly special — something from a small batch made by hand each year — you’re going to have to look elsewhere. 

You’re going to have to look at F.P. Journe.

Journe is one of the world’s foremost living watchmakers, having begun his studies at the age of 15. He received his watchmaking diploma at theÉcole d'Horlogerie in Paris at the age of 19. His namesake timepieces are complicated works of horological art, the result of in-house ideation, design, and construction. In short: Journe is a master craftsman of the highest order, and his creations are some of the most desirable timepieces on Earth.

The Octa Lune was produced between 2004 and 2015 and to this day, remains as one of F.P. Journe’s most iconic dial silhouettes. It uniquely displays each function by visually separating each with right-aligned timekeeping dials (hours and minutes with subsidiary seconds) and a left-aligned power reserve indicator, ‘big date’ and moonphase aperture. This refined aesthetic offers legibility, as well as the opportunity to marvel at the fine finishing in each function - as well as in the 'dead space' between them - that enthusiasts indelibly associate with the maison.

This particular example features a 40mm platinum case that is agreeably restrained. It sidesteps gimmicky design and construction and instead leans on the simplicity of its curved case lines. The crown adds an ounce of flare with its beautifully detailed, rope-like motif and in hand, there's buttery smoothness to the setting mechanism.

The dial is crafted from 18k rose gold, and is hand-finished with granular texture, resulting in a warm, salmon tone throughout. Timekeeping is recorded in Journe's signature 3 o'clock oriented configuration with applied rhodium Arabic indices, a chemin de fer minute track, and matching handset with a running subsidiary seconds indicator with ‘Breguet’ hand overlapping on the bottom edge.

Powering this awesome display of high-end watchmaking is the automatic-winding Calibre 1300.3. Comprised of 223 individual components, it is decorated with 30 jewels, a partially circular grained baseplate, circular striping on the bridges, and hand-finished polishing and chamfering throughout. The off-centered winding rotor is a masterclass in flawless guilloché finishing, and is visible through a sapphire display back. It comes fitted to a signed black alligator strap with a signed platinum pin buckle.

In comparison to some of his other works, the F.P.Journe Octa Lune is a relatively simple execution, but in our eyes it shows the brilliance of his work - doing 'busy' avant-garde designs is one thing, but with a cleaner, simpler execution such as this, the details matter so much more. With the winning combination of a platinum case and its salmon-toned dial, the details are perfect inside and out.

Just take a close look at it - you'll have to agree that this is nothing short of a masterpiece!

Please note:  This watch was originally purchased at  F.P. Journe's NYC boutique, and will include a certificate of origin from F.P. Journe (on order).