Chronometre a Resonance 20 Years Retrospective Exhibition in Geneva

Aug 30, 2020,16:12 PM
 


From Tuesday, September 1.st to Friday September 4.th, there is a respective exhibition of the Chronometre a Resonance on display, at the F.P. Journe Manufacture, in Geneva. The exhibition will be accessible to the public during this period.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Chronometre a Resonance. As you know, this has already been marked by the launch of a new watch  -  Chronomentre a Resonance RQ - with an entirely new movement that has two remontoir dΓ©galite added to the the pair of resonating escapements plus a number of changes in case and dial.

The launch of the RQ was originally intended to have taken place at a major event at the manufacture, this past March. A part of the event was a retrospective exhibition on the Chronometre a Resonance. Covid-19 suddenly changed our lives and the event was cancelled.

The RQ was launched in the end of April, and has been shipped out to the Boutique network, to be displayed locally to the costumers.  


Please read the article about the Resonance RQ here:

www.watchprosite.com


Geneva Watch Days has just taken place this past weekend and the part of the watch press that have been able to travel (almost only the European press) have been in Geneva to see the new pieces from a number of smaller brands as well as selection of the Independents. FP Journe has been exhibiting during the event and welcomed journalists to finally see the new Resonance RQ, the Chronometre Astronomic as well as some other pieces that have been updated. I will write a separate post about these pieces in the week ahead. This post will only focus on the retrospective exhibition.

Since many people are unable to travel to Geneva, Francois Paul Journe has also decided to make a small movie about the exhibition. This is currently in production and should be out in a near future.Look out for it! I will also keep you posted as soon as it is out.



The Manufacture in Rue de la Synagogue





The atmosphere was relaxed and informal. Francois-Paul Journe was talking with the guests who where primarily dealers and journalists. People where constantly coming and going. Especially journalists as they had booked timeslots to see the new pieces. 









The Chronometre a Resonance 20 year Retrospective.

(I will present the exhibition in chronological order)

The first displaycase was the biggest surprise. Especially if you are deeply in to F.P. Journe, and the Chronometre a Resonance. The  piece to the right has never been published or exhibited before. It is the first working  prototype of the Chronometre a Resonance. F.P. has previously thought that this piece was either lost or dsassembled. However, when he was preparing the exhibition he was able to relocate it.  He explained, When he found it the No 1 was not put together. He then started to rebuild it. This had been very emotional proces to him, as he was suddenly reliving his youth. Old memories and feelings surfaced. His hopes and dreams he had at the time of concretion.  






 An attempt to build a movement with two escapements beating in tact from 1983 and engraved 2/84.









Prototype for a case from 1997. Notice the convex band and the elongated lugs that look soldered. It is quite different from the final design. However it shares the idea of the elegant slim lines and the rounded bezel.










The No 1, the first prototype of the "Montre A Resonance" from 1998. 
The movement was running during the exhibition. This design is getting very close to the final result. Dont you love the mounted plate for the Power reserve? One major element is still not in place. The crown on the top (for winding and setting) has still not been sunken in to the case. FP had cut the lugs off the former case and soldered them on the back, so the crown was free to be manipulated. however the overall tectonics of the case are now much closer to the one we know today. The lugs are with the same elongated shape as the other watch case. 











Early production pieces




Here is the No 000. This number always belongs to the Manufacture. From year 2000, 38 mm platinum case, yellow gold dial.




A prototype regency dial produced in 1999.  



A rose gold dial with platinum bracelet from 2001, that has belonged to the legendary watch journalist Gabriel Tortella.




















No 20 from year 2000. A two-tone case in gold and platinum. a series of 5 pieces with this combination. One recently sold at auction.










A  "Regency Dial" in rose gold and platinum case from 2002.










Prototype of the famous "Ruthinium Series" from 2001.










The" Resonance Nouveau" from 2004. The movement is slightly redesigned and now produced in 18 Kt rose gold.










Special piece from 2006 for the Tokyo Boutique 3 year anniversary. 12 pieces made. The case it titanium, the dial ruthinium hands, crowns and movement are rose gold.
















24 hour display with moving disks dial, presented in 2010





2019 the last version of the 1499 movement is presented. a 24 hour dial on the left 12 hours to the right.




The new Chronometre a Resonance RQ. Housing a new caliber with two Remontoir d'egalite - one for each escpament. Powered by one large mainspring, a differencial that is visible through the hole in the dial, distributes power to each of the going trains.










Thist is the entire exhibition. I will follow up with more posts on the new Resonance. 





More posts: ChronometreResonance

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Thank you for posting this!

 
 By: akewises : August 30th, 2020-16:45
Great history line! I hope they would exhibit them in Tokyo someday too...

my pleasure :-)

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 30th, 2020-17:19
The tokyo boutique as fantastic. a very special building and the store is very, very nice.

The Prototype is magnificent!

 
 By: John-E-Mac : August 30th, 2020-17:52
Thank you for the retrospective post. -John

Yes it was crazy.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 30th, 2020-21:50
Of course the years have made it very rustic. But none the less.

Thank you, looks like an amazing exhibit! I hope it comes to NY one day ...

 
 By: als1678 : August 30th, 2020-19:55
The chronometre resonance is one of the greatest masterpieces of modern watchmaking. I love how seeing its evolution goes to the heart of the development of FP Journe as a watchmaker.

I agree. The Resonance is a very significant addition to the modern watch.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 30th, 2020-22:38
I also love how raw and simple things where in the beginning, before it becomes Manufacture pieces. Despite the progression, I also think it is striking how clear his vision was from the beginning.

Thanks Christian!

 
 By: igibliss : August 30th, 2020-21:21
Amazing post for us that can’t be there.

. [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 1st, 2020-12:31

Thank you so much.it is with pleasure.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 30th, 2020-22:39
Hope to see you soon.

πŸ‘πŸ˜„ [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-12:19

Thank you!

 
 By: furen : August 30th, 2020-22:52
I have been a Journe fan since the early 2000, but was only able to purchase my first Journe last year. It was perfect timing. Because after i got mine, prices started flying. I never bought it for the investment. It was a passion and dream purchase. Than... 

many thanks dear Christian for a great report

 
 By: Mohannad (aka Riddler) : August 31st, 2020-00:55
amazing pieces and more amazing history thanks again and all the best

Dearest Mo, Im so glad you enjoyed it.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-03:29
It makes it all worth while

Superb Post.

 
 By: RG1 : August 31st, 2020-01:22
So many amazing pieces, especially that prototypes. I wish I could attend the exhibition. Anyway, Thanks for sharing.

Great report with remarkable pieces.

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : August 31st, 2020-02:20
What happened to that prototype from 1998? What have they done to watch to make it look so aged, so battered? Thank you for this nice post.

My pleasure :-) I believe it is made of brass and silver.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-03:31
The watch was apparently in parts up untill the exhibition when FP reassebled it.

Wonderful retrospective for FPJ ...

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : August 31st, 2020-02:55
Thank you for taking us with you Christian. Looking forward to seeing your post about the new Resonance.

You are so very welcome Cpt :-)

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-03:34
More to come in the pipeline! The new Resonance RQ blew my mind. It is extraordinary!!!!

Wonderful, thanks for

 
 By: Passionata_george : August 31st, 2020-03:42
sharing it , I think FPJ is/will be the new PP.

dear George, that was truly my pleasure!

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-05:08
I think you are right in your prediction that FPJ is getting recognition on a whole new and different level - and in the very top! Still the companies and the production numbers belong to different worlds. I think the collectors are getting much more crit... 

Thanks Christian for the quick turnaround and posting of this.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : August 31st, 2020-05:34
We all wish we could be there I think; alas not to be right now. Interesting to note the misspelling of Resonance on that very first watch. I think Journe has a good giggle at that now. It is true, as I believe I’ve heard him say, these first attempts wer... 

My Pleasure, Jay :-)

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-07:04
I can well understand your disappointment in not being able to see the exhibition. Ive told the staff they should consider a reprise. I think this exhibition materializes (a part of) the core of what F.P. journe is! Also a lot of fun to be able to compare... 

Terrific report and wonderful pictures, Christian.

 
 By: TheMadDruid : August 31st, 2020-06:11
So glad you found the time to visit the exhibit and write about it. It’s amazing that Journe has basically devoted his talent to the specific idea of making the most accurate chronometre and yet that endeavor has led him to go down so many different paths... 

thank you so much Mike. It was really a pleasure to do.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-07:09
I think his vision is so clear and so simple and yet he has been able to elaborate it across so many movements and and designs. And you are never in doubt if it is a Journe. Lots of variation within the coherence. Its also what makes it fun to collect - b... 

Thank you so much, my friend 😊

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-11:28
Glad you enjoyed it!

How I wish the current watches looked like the original one...

 
 By: mdg : August 31st, 2020-09:13
...with the engraved text on the dial and a truly hand-made look for the movement. Somehow FPJ watches are looking a little too refined. I prefer a more rustic-looking watch...

It was really rustic, I tell you. The subdials where hardly readable.

 
 By: ChristianDK : August 31st, 2020-11:40
It was cool for what it is, but too much. FPJ was never about hand engraved and superb beveling ala Phillipe Dufour, turning out 25 watches in a year.. His ambition, from the very beginning -so he told over the weekend, has always been to build a true man... 

Truly a please.πŸ‘ [nt]

 
 By: ChristianDK : September 14th, 2020-21:36