Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Mar 16, 2014

LOT 322

F.P. JOURNE, CHRONOMETRE A RESONANCE, BLACK LABEL, 1 OF 2 PRODUCED FOR THE GENEVA BOUTIQUE IN 2011 F.P. Journe, "Invenit et Fecit", "Chronomètre à Résonance", case No. 020- RT. Sold on September 1st, 2011. Very fine and rare, two time zone, platinum Chronometer wristwatch with resonance controlled twin independent movements, 40-hour power-reserve indication and a platinum adjustable F.P. Journe buckle. Accompanied by the F.P. Journe fitted box, warranty, instruction manual and spare brown strap.

Two-body, solid, polished, transparent case back with 6 screws, top and side crowns engine-turned in "cordes de Marseille" pattern, sapphire crystals. Subsidiary guilloche silver dials with concentric radial Arabic numerals for hours and minutes and aperture for second digital dial indicating 24 hours,the off-set seconds secured to a brushed 18K white gold plate by 3 screws, up and down indication at 12. Blued steel Journe hands. Cal. F.P. Journe 1499.3 in 18K pink gold, fausses cotes decoration, twin independent complete trains set on a single plate, 36 jewels, twin straight- line lever escapements, twin beryllium 4-arm balances with 4 adjustable timing weights, shock absorbers, self-compensating free-sprung Invar balance springs. One of the escapements is mounted on a small platform pivoting around the second wheel by means of rack and pinion to adjust the distance between the 2 balances in order finding the most efficient position for resonance synchronization. The crown at 4 synchronizes both seconds hands.