F.P. Journe is an interesting case in the expanding landscape of independent watchmaking. For a watchmaker that produces around 900 pieces per year, the brand is seen in all the right places, regularly winning prizes at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and producing a watch for the Only Watch charity auction for its last three editions. But what can be a little confusing is just how the brand structures its collections – for that, here’s an introduction to F.P. Journe.
Inside the F.P. Journe Manufacture. Image: thehourglass.com
Watches from F.P. Journe can basically be broken down into three collections: the Souveraine Collection, the Octa Collection and the Linesport Collection. These three collections cover everything from more simple time-only watches, to minute repeaters and perpetual calendars, but are united through a consistent design language. Round case shapes, asymmetric dial layouts and highly stylised numerals are all a part of the blueprint that makes an F.P. Journe recognisable across the room, despite there being fewer than 20,000 of them in existence (half of the annual production of Audemars Piguet).
The F.P. Journe display at The Hour Glass boutique in Sydney.
For a full introduction to F.P. Journe, The Hour Glass (who are the sole stockist of F.P. Journe in Australia) has published a piece that goes into some good detail on where the brand has come from, and how you break down the different pieces on offer. Find the full article here.
