Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Boutique F.P Journe Tokyo

Chronographe FB: Limited Edition of 200 PiecesAt a time when watch brands favored retailers for their distribution, François-Paul Journe chose not to follow convention. He was the first to open a subsidiary and a boutique under his name in Aoyama, in central Tokyo. He took a bold step, relying above all on his instinct and his admiration for Japan, a country that cultivates both modernity and age-old traditions. Just a stone’s throw from the Nezu Museum, in the Omotesando district, the F.P.Journe Boutique opened its doors in September 2003 inside ‘La Collezione’, the work of Tadao Ando, the architect of spirituality, celebrated in his country as a national treasure, whose minimalist style is characterized by geometric shapes in concrete and a subtle mastery of natural light. Initially housed on the first floor, the installation of a monumental double staircase in April 2004 made it possible to connect the ground floor, bringing the total surface area to 300 square meters. To echo the curves of the balustrade, display cases were specially designed by Swiss metalworker Xavier Dietlin. They would be called Archange. Timeless, they resemble sculptures and are still the common thread running through all the F.P.Journe Boutiques. The layout was entirely imagined by Seihachi Sagawa and François-Paul Journe, each element having been meticulously chosen to create a singular place reflecting its philosophy. Before crossing the threshold, one notices the original door handle manufactured in Japan and fashioned in the effigy of the rotor of the Octa caliber. The interior decoration perpetuates the long history of watchmaking.

Portraits of the great master watchmakers of the 17th and 18th centuries take pride of place in small alcoves, while workbenches, “Quinquet” lamps, lathes, and other antique tools decorate the different areas, not forgetting the library, rich in works on the art and measurement of time. And, for the first time in the world in a watchmaking boutique, there’s a bar where collectors and enthusiasts can meet “as if at home” for a coffee and a chat about their passion and favorite subject. To complete the décor, the walls are adorned with large monochrome frescoes showing watchmakers at work, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the world of the Manufacture. The Tokyo Boutique was an important milestone in the brand’s history and the starting point for its worldwide expansion.
Today, 12 F.P.Journe Boutiques and Maisons welcome collectors, from Hong Kong to Geneva, from Paris to New York. To thank the customers of its Boutiques, François-Paul Journe decided to create the Tokyo Boutique Anniversaire Series in their honor. The first edition, produced in 2005, was an exclusive version of the Chronomètre Souverain (20 pieces), with a polished Titanium case, an 18kt rose gold crown and a ruthenium dial. This was followed by the Chronomètre à Résonance in 2006 (12 pieces), the Tourbillon Souverain in 2007 (20 pieces), the Octa Perpétuelle in 2009 (99 pieces) and, finally, the Centigraphe Souverain in 2016 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of each of its Boutiques (80 pieces in all), each piece being numbered and engraved with the name of the corresponding city.

The Chronographe FB is the latest iteration and will be the brand’s last Limited Series. Technical Specifications:
The case, in polished titanium, measures 40mm x 10.4mm. 18kt rose gold crown and pushers. Double sapphire crystals. Movement is the Swiss manual-wind FP Journe in-house caliber 1518.2, done in 18kt gold, with 25 jewels, 21,600 vph, and a power reserve of 80 hours. Flyback chronograph. It features a linear-level escapement with 15 teeth. Anachron flat balance spring, balance with foud adjustable inertia weights. Mobile stud holder, free-sprung. Nivatronic laser soldered balance spring. Pinned GE stud. High-grade finishing with circular stripes on the bridges. The baseplate is partly circular-grained. Polished screw heads with chamfered slots. Pegs with polished rounded ends. Steel parts with polished chamfers, and straight graining. Functions are hours, minutes, and flyback chronograph seconds in the center. 60-second counter at 9 o’clock, 60-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, and large date at 6 o’clock. Ruthenium-coated guilloché silver dial with Tachymeter scale and counters in sapphire. Rose gold gilt hands, red lacquered and ivory.

It comes on a burgundy alligator leather strap with an 18kt rose gold folding clasp.