FP Journe Chronomètre Holland & Holland

Holland & Holland make guns. They have since 1835. One might think the French attitude of FP Journe might mean that the brand is above collaborations, but in the earlier days this was certainly not the case. This is the Chronomètre Holland & Holland, notably not a Souverain. You might think the Chonomètre Bleu is the only Journe in a 39mm, but no. This is in that sweet spot as well. Apart from the Vagabondage I, which sort of doesn't count, it is the only two-hand Journe that we can think of. That's right, petite seconds are erased.

The supplemental photography for images of this Find are of an example sold prior by A Collected Man and not for sale now. The example currently at auction is in the image below. 

As a result, the numerals don't shrink, they're constant height. And that's really only the start of what makes this 'collab' a mesmerizing experience. Many wrongly think the Holland & Holland steel is in the steel used for the case. It's not. Many also wrongly think this is a wood dial. Alas, no. It's far more interesting. This dial started as a shotgun barrel from 1882, no. 7183. The barrel was cut lengthwise, rolled to form flat strips, then cut into smaller strips that could be rolled into a dial proportion. This was the work of Les Cadraniers de Genève, a process that resembles Damascus steel. After the dial blank was made, it was sent back to Holland & Holland for its 'browning', a traditional technique used on their guns which protects the steel and highlights the wear patterns formed. The process dates back to the mid-late 1800s and has been incorporated into the gunmaking process since then. The process is a controlled form of rust which is is then boiled and carded off using a wire brush. The result creates a harder, more resilient steel which embellishes its own patina. 

The design of the dial here is pure time-only, no seconds hand. This is what makes it a Chronomètre Holland & Holland, and not Souverain. And that creates something of an ultimate time-only Journe for special occasions. Even the CB doesn’t push simplicity that far. But its steel case borrows from the CB, using the in-between 39mm size we rarely see. Two of Holland & Hollands barrels were used for this collaboration. There was barrel 1382, dating to 1868, which created 38 dials. There was also barrel 7183, dating to 1882, which produced 28 dials. That’s 66 examples in total. They’re all sought after now. And it’s easy to see why.

This is . . .CHH? (I suppose that's the proper abbreviation) presents in excellent overall condition. ITs case is full, the engravings are deep. It comes with the full kit as part of this year's Phillips Hong Kong online sale.