Since the introduction of the first ‘Réserve de Marche’ in 2001, mechanical F. P. Journe examples can be divided into two main movement types – the manually-wound ‘Souverain’ and automatic ‘Octa’ (Latin for ‘eight’ or ‘infinite’). In 2001, the ‘Octa’ debuted as the first automatic movement to deliver 120 hours of precision timekeeping through reserved-power. Each ‘Octa’ movement is designed to incorporate fully-integrated complications within the same volume. Impressively, all variations within F. P. Journe’s entire ‘Octa’ collection are identical, both in diameter and thickness. The Octa Calendrier was the first wristwatch to integrate an annual calendar with a large date, and to feature a power reserve of more than 120 hours.
This rose gold Octa Calendrier is quintessentially F. P. Journe. Housed in a classical 38 mm dress watch case, it bears F. P. Journe’s signature ‘flat crown’ with a rope-like pattern. The light grey dial is delicately textured and displays a separate silver guilloché dial for the hours and minutes. The words ‘Invenit et Fecit’ are inscribed below the two subsidiary seconds - a nod to signing conventions of a century ago. To the left of the dial, the date is displayed on an arc which extends around the circumference of the dial, with a blued hand pointing to the correct date. Meanwhile, the day and month are shown through two apertures, which feature a white background and black text, for legibility. The date automatically advances for months with 29, 30 and 31 days. Overall, the dial layout is clean and highly legible.
This automatic, self-winding F. P. Journe calibre 1300.3 movement is made of solid 18k rose gold, with Côtes de Genève, constructed with 39 jewels and a shock absorber mechanism. It further features a straight-line lever escapement, and monometallic 4-arm balance with 4 timing weights, adjusted to 5 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring, and an off-centre unidirectional 22-carat gold guilloche rotor. The movement is engraved "Exclusive Power Reserve System" and "Precision Chronometer".
If sold within the United Kingdom, this F. P. Journe Octa Calendrier will be subject to 20% VAT