Chronomètre à Résonance, RN, Platinum

When FP Journe was young, he worked with his uncle at the Museum of Arts and Metiérs where a Breguet resonance regulator from King Louis XVIII was housed. From this moment, he was enthralled. Directly after beginning his eponymous brand in 1999 with Tourbillons, a young FP Journe knew he needed to push the boundaries of what was possible in order to establish his reputation. The Chronomètre à Resonance was born in late 1999, a world first in wristwatches. Shortly thereafter, in 2004, all Journe production began to be made in pink gold movements. This RN (Resonance Nouveau) comes from right after that shift, a second series model in platinum with a pink gold dial. In the words of Rexhep Rexhepi, who worked for Francois-Paul at the time, 'When I think of FP Journe, I think of the Resonance.' The Resonance is arguably Journe’s defining accomplishment. 

The history of Resonance watchmaking traces all the way to Antide Janvier, royal clockmaker for King Lous XVI, who used two pendulums. Rather interestingly, he did not call the effect resonance, neither he nor Breguet named it. The resonance name, as applied to horology, was invented by FP Journe. Later, Breguet made prototype pocket watches which used closely placed balances for synchronization, which directly inspired FP Journe. George Daniels, when describing these prototypes, described them as, ‘examples of an experiment to demonstrate Breguet’s theory of dynamics as applied to oscillating bodies.’

FP Journe attempted to make the first Resonance wristwatch watch in 1994, which took him four years to complete. It was eventually cased in 1998. Prior to 1998, he carried it around in his pocket and would occasionally hold it to his ear to listen for synchronization. Once cased, he wore this watch, secretly, to his first ever exhibition at 1998 Basel Fair. It featured an accidental typo on the dial: ‘Resonnance’. Günter Blümlein is said to have been the only person to take notice of it back then. That dial is all that remains of this incredible history, the prototype was disassembled.  

The RN series was introduced at the dawn of the ‘Gold Era’ late in 2004. RN spanned two calibres, beginning with 1499.2 and ending with this 1499.3, which included an updated power reserve system. The dial remained nearly unchanged from the first series, except the shape of the dial frame around the screws which introduced a more swooping and gentle curve. Yellow Gold was removed as a dial option as it contrasted the pink gold calibre, and by this point all dials were a uniform grained gold which varied little inter-generation. The RN mirrors the charm of the very early Resonances, separated only by the introduction of gold calibres. What followed in the 2010 RT has infamously been dubbed the ‘Parking Meter’, and, while charming, this RN is inarguably the end of the early Resonance aesthetic. 

The Resonance is not just FP Journe at his best, though it is his signature. The Resonance is independent watchmaking at its best: inspired from Breguet pocket watches and pendulum clocks, then painstakingly evolved into wristwatch scale. This RN is a gorgeous specimen from earlier years, often cited as a sweet spot of Journe collecting today. Foremost, however, it is a watch that offers a clear window into François-Paul's mind and his singleness of vision. You feel the young watchmaker's identity, ambition, and soul every time you set it. And that's what independent watchmaking should do. 

This RN is preserved in great overall condition. The dial shows no marks or blemishes of any sort. There are no marks on any of the hands. The case has not been retouched in its life and features honest signs of occasional wear. There are some light marks on the bezel and lugs, but no significant marks amounting to dents or impressions. The deployant clasp's outer blade is sporting a notable degree of wear. While it could be refinished, we would never advise that option, it adds to the honest condition of this case. Its calibre 1499.3 is running well in specification. This example includes its complete set, with an original purchase receipt and service receipts.

This example is modelled on an average-sized 7-inch wrist.