Ruthenium FP Journe Octa Chronographe

The Octa Chronographe is a short-lived, rather thoughtful chronograph made from just 2001 to 2008, when it was replaced by the Centigraphe. Across all 7 years, it is estimated that the total number of examples made is just 313 examples. It straddles the transition from brass to pink gold movements and serves as excellent canvas to showcase the quick evolution FPJ was undergoing in the early 2000s. More than that, it is a flyback, big date, 120-hour reserve chronograph which was, in 2001, a first. And this one is a Ruthenium.

At the very end of the early brass years, FP Journe chose to send off brass calibres with a limited edition. Between 2001 and 2003, François-Paul created the Ruthenium Collection, before pink gold movements were introduced. For five core models, an individually numbered 99 examples would be made with the new 40mm case but still with a brass movement. No other 40mm Journe cases have been made featuring brass movements. The dial, plates, and bridges were all coated in Ruthenium. They remain some of the most collected Journes of all time and the only series in an individually numbered limited editions. This one is 38 out of 99. Interestingly, the Octa Chronographe is the sole model in FPJ where the Ruthenium collection is in fact the most serially produced dial of the model.

That’s backwards from every other Ruthenium model. And it’s not like the Octa Chronographe isn’t one of the more intriguing. For example, it’s no thicker than anything else in the Octa collection? How? The chronograph mechanism was integrated into the base plate itself, directly under the dial. There’s nothing modular about it. Many more recent converts aren’t actually aware a Journe chronograph with traditional pushers even exists. It’s a surreal accomplishment, one which is greatly overlooked. Where this Ruthenium example winds up is anyone’s guess, but it’s a great opportunity to underscore one of the cooler, lesser-seen, out of production Journes, like an Octa Calendrier that goes start-stop-reset.

This example presents in excellent overall condition. The case doesn’t appear touched up, the engravings on back and the deep style and still appear to indeed be deep. The dial is very lightly aged, but not much patina. It comes as part of Phillips Hong Kong online sale, ending in 3 days. Godspeed.