François-Paul Journe may be considered the 'Mozart of modern independent watchmaking'. His work is recognized as a technical feat that inspires the greatest collectors.

A watchmaker with his uncle on Rue de Verneuil in Paris, he was initially known to collectors for his exceptional restorations and commission work for antique watch enthusiasts. At the end of the 1990s, he decided to set up his own company in Geneva, manufacturing rare and precious timepieces.

The invention that made him a household name was undoubtedly the resonance chronometer, inherited from the greatest watchmakers of the Age of Enlightenment. This physical phenomenon, which enables resonance between two oscillating balances, was originally invented by Antide Janvier and then used in a pocket watch by Abraham Louis Breguet. François-Paul Journe adapted it to a wristwatch for the first time in the history of watchmaking, and offered it for subscription to launch his company. Initially reserved for a small number of friends and enthusiasts, it quickly became a success in the mid-2000s and has been a major player for the past 10 years.

Our 'Chronomètre Bleu', which comes from post-2010 production, is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic successes of recent years in the world of watchmaking. Exhibited at one of the latest editions of the Biennale des Antiquaires in 2017, it is fast becoming a "must-have" highly sought-after by collectors.

Upcoming sale
Collector's watches
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
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For any further information or to include a lot in our sales, please contact:
Claire Hofmann
Head of department
+33 7 49 97 32 28
hofmann@aguttes.com