foversta's report on the F.P. Journe event in Paris, held in partnership with "Grand Prix" magazine, offers a unique glimpse into the brand's connection with auto racing. This article highlights how personal friendships and a shared passion for mechanics influenced the creation of watches like the Centigraphe, providing valuable context for collectors interested in the brand's design philosophy and history. The event also showcased the Octa Sport, emphasizing the aesthetic appeal of F.P. Journe movements in their lightweight aluminum alloy cases.
I had the opportunity to attend last week an event organized by the FP Journe boutique of Paris in partnership with the French magazine dedicated to Auto Racing "Grand Prix".
It may be surprising but there is a close link between FP Journe and the world of Auto Racing. First of all, François-Paul Journe and Jean Todt are close friends. This friendship had an influence on the current FP Journe collection because the idea of the Centigraphe came to Journe's mind after a visit at the Maralleno factory. There are also the relationships between François-Paul Journe and the famous French pilot Jean Alesi: both are coming from the South of France and as you know, the passion of mechanics, on wheels or on the wrists, can lead to strong friendship between enthusiast people!
Last year, Jean Alesi participated to the Indianapolis 500 race. Even if his participation to the famous race was not very successful, it gave the opportunity to François-Paul Journe to dedicated a watch to the celebration of Jean Alesi's involvement. The watch was an evolution of the Octa Sport, one of the two representatives of the LineSport collection. These light watches feature Aluminium alloy cases and movement parts. For me, their biggest asset is to be able to observe FP Journe movements out of their classic gold context. The Aluminium alloy allows to discover them under a new spotlight.
The FP Journe boutique of Paris has signed several months ago a partnership with the magazine "Grand Prix" which is issued on a quaterly basis. The purpose of the magazine is to tell the stories behind the scenes, to focus on the people who make the world of Auto Racing so fascinating, to dedicate large chapters to the history of these sports. A cocktail is organized at each publication of the magazine to welcome in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere the main pilots, the people for whom articles were dedicated.
Last week, the cocktail gathered an impressive set of famous pilots and of French legends of Auto Racing with Henri Pescarolo, Jean-Pierre Beltoise without forgetting Jean Alesi himself!
I propose you to browse some pics of the event. All these pictures were taken by Antoine Pascal so thank a lot to him for his dedication during the event.
The guests are arriving at the event:
The Centigraphe on the foreground:
The sommelier is ready! And I was very happy because the wine was coming from my hometown, Pessac!
Christophe, the FP Journe watchmaker of the boutique is explaining some technical features of the Journe watches to a guest:
A close view on the Centigraphe dial!
Christophe describes the lay-out of the Centigraphe movement:
Henri Pescarolo (left) and GĂ©rard Pires (right, a famous French director) are watching the display:
The relaxed atmosphere of the event:
French Auto Racing journalist and writer Jean-Paul Calmus is discovering the latest issue of "Grand Prix":
Jean-Pierre Beltoise couldn't miss the article about his encounter with Henri Pascarolo and Emmanuel Zurini:
Let's browse the mag!
Jean-Pierre Beltoise recognizes the picture on the right! It was a Formula 2 race of the 24th of August, 1969! Were also participating to this race Jo Siffert, François Cevert, Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo...
Eric Bhat, former journalist who founded the French magazine "Auto Plus":
GĂ©rard Pires is carefully reading the articles:
And so Jean-Paul Calmus:
Henri Pescarolo with a guest:
I was at the right place between a journalist of Le Figaro and Sophie Grimaud, PR of FP Journe France:
Some memories of Jean Alesi's participation to the 2012 Indianapolis 500 race:
Laure of the FP Journe boutique is presenting a watch to a French motorsports journalist, Cyril Drevet:
Lucas Pouedras, director of the FP Journe boutique of Paris with Henri Pescarolo and Jean-Pierre Beltoise:
On the right, Stephan Ciejka of the French magazine "La Revue des Montres":
Henri Pescarolo and Jean Alesi:
Jean Alesi between Laure and Maurine of the FP Journe boutique:
Henri Pescarolo between Maurine and Laure:
Another famous pilot... no, just a PuristSPro moderator again at the right place:
Thierry Castagna (La Cote des Montres) and Stephan Ciejka:
The LineSport:
Jean Alesi with the staff of the FP Journe boutique:
Please find below some pics of the Octa Sport "Indy 500" without the logos of the event and of the Lotus team:
The small window at 9 o'clock is actually a nigh&day indicator.
The movement looks totally different with the use of the Aluminium alloy:
On the wrist:
To be frank with you, this watch is not my cup of tea.
The Centigraphe of the LineSport, the CTS convinced me more:
I think that the Centigraphe is the best base to be used as a watch for the LineSport. The most impressive feature of this watch is its very light weight. I like the dial and the bracelet is very comfortable. But I was not convinced by the visual rendering of this bracelet.
Anyway, even if we may think that these watches are far from the ideas we have of any Journe watches, they have the interest to propose an alternative approach within the Journe collection. I don't consider them as the best way to enter Journe's world but if you are a fan of the brand, they deserve a closer look. As usual with the Centigraph, I like the pushers system and it works very well with the CTS.
I would like to thank a lot the FP Journe team for the invitation and the organisation of the event. And of course, thanks again to Antoine Pascal for the pictures.
Fx
