Important Collectors’ Wristwatches an...

Hôtel Plaza Athénée - Le Trianon, Sep 28, 2005

LOT 62

F. P. Journe, "Invenit et Fecit,? "Chronomètre à Resonance,? No. 72/99-01R. Made in a limited edition of 99 examples in 2001. Very fine and rare, two-time zone, platinum, chronometer wristwatch with resonance controlled twin independent movements, 40-hour power reserve indication and a platinum F. P. Journe buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and certificate.

USD 45,000 - 55,000

EUR 37,000 - 45,000

Sold: USD 50,600

C. Two-body, solid, polished, transparent case back with 6 screws, top and side crowns engine-turned with a knurled pattern, sapphire crystals. D. Twin "guilloché" matte silver ring dials with concentric radial Arabic numerals and minute rings, offset subsidiary seconds dials on a brushed 18K gold and ruthenium-plated dial plate with up-and-down indication at 12. Blued steel "Journe" hands. M. Cal. F. P. Journe 13''', ruthenium-plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, twin independent complete trains set on a single plate, 37 jewels, twin straight line lever escapements, twin beryllium four-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 to find the most efficient position for resonance synchronization. The crown at 5 synchronizes the seconds hands. Dial and case signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness: 9 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent

Case: 3

Good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

"Chronomètre à Résonance". An exceptional and unique creation in chronometer engineering, the Resonance System Chronometer exhibits the so-called resonance, a phenomenon of physics duly applied to the science of horology. A world?s first, this wristwatch uses two entirely independent movements which inter-operate in harmony with each other for a wearing precision that exceeds the established limits for mechanical wristwatches. The physical phenomenon of resonance forms an integral part of our daily lives, yet we scarcely pay any attention to it. When searching for a specific program on our radio, the radio crackles because the waves selected have not encountered other waves, those of the radio transmitter, until they become harmonized. In the past, Napoleon once forbade his troops to march over a bridge for fear of it collapsing from the effects of resonance! Although this phenomenon is proven and acknowledged, it is still difficult to explain. Until the recent years, the phenomenon of resonance was not well understood, but had already been pointed out as early as in the 17th century by Christian Huygens in particular, among several other scientists. For instance, the highly precision Constant Pressure regulators, still in use less than 40 years ago at the Observatory of Paris for the Bureau International de l'heure and the radio broadcast time signal sent from the Eiffel Tower, were fitted in the Catacombes, at a depth of 26 meters to eliminate fluctuations in temperature and atmospheric pressure. They were also set in separated rooms, in order to avoid any resonance interference. However, as early as the end of the 18th century, few clockmakers among the most eminent found a way to take advantage of the success of such a phenomenon, by synchronizing the pendulums of regulators fitted with two independent movements. Even more so, when applied to a watch, it ensures exceptional operating reliability and precision. When you make a sudden movement, the two movements clash in opposite directions and gradually come to operate in harmony as a result of the force of resonance. As they are inter-attracted, they oscillate together in union, an invisible wave linking the two balances. This timepiece is the only precision chronometer that is not affected by the movements of the wearer. The balances oscillate in natural opposition, and therefore absorb the shocks and compensate the disturbances in order to ensure identical regularity, whether it is worn or not. Antiquorum sold the prototype of this watch in Geneva, on October 23, 1999, lot 75.