AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
12829
A different time
Thanks Patrick, always interesting to read your thoughts. In some ways it is unfair to compare any modern individual with historical figures as history fills in so many relational details.
The impression I get is that A.L. Breguet was innovative in his watchmaking (self winding mechanisms, parachute shock protection, constant force escapement, overcoil, gongs for minute repeaters, wrist watches, and of course the tourbillon), aesthetics (offset dials, unique hands, numerals, etc) and business practices.
Where I do see similarities are that both the watches of F.P. Journe and A.L. Breguet rely on the vision of one individual. Both these men’s watches have a distinct design aesthetic. You can argue, correctly, that ALB was more innovative in his mechanical engineering, but I think it is hard to go back to this golden age of horological invention. Personally I am content to see reimagining and reinvention from my horological companies if it brings a new way of looking at time and new and interesting designs.
Andrew
Horology Essay Q4: “F.P. Journe is the modern day A.L. Breguet”
Discuss ... [ Instructions may be found by clicking here ]
To answer that question …
To answer that question we need to know who has been ordering Grand Sonneries from F.P.Journe! And if history repeats, Mr Journe will manage too slip out the back door when the revolution comes. A
In spite of all his accomplishments, François-Paul has modestly claimed
that if Abraham Louis Breguet were alive today he would be inventing intersellar spacecraft. I think that François-Paul JOURNE is on the same level and thankfully we are all alive to witness and benefit from his inventions. These are good times indee...
I'm going to be subtracting marks from your essay ...
... for that little stunt, Nico! There's always one in every classroom. And for future historians, here is the link to the Razor Centi Graph: click here...
Still interested in your thoughts ...
Hi Nicolas. Not sure who said this, but the similarities between Breguet and Journe are bandied about occasionally. I am interested in your comments one way or the other. You can approach it from any direction you like: watch design, business approach, co...
Not sure it will give FPJ a smile... But since you asked...
Invenit ...What did FPJ invenit? I'm really surprised that we could compare FPJ to Mr BREGUET. Mr Journe revisits Horology, like the Double Resonnance, when Mr Breguet invented. I find this a bit pretentious, to say all. I would not pronounce myself on th...
Invented
Perhaps he will get a laugh rather than a smile, Nicolas? It will not be Mr Journe comparing himself with Mr Breguet (see also Marcel’s comment above) but rather, I suspect, journalists and enthusiastic salesmen! Invenit et Fecit ” (Latin: inv...
For what it is worth
I have in the back of my head that Journe invented some useful, if nearly invisible, refinements of the repeater structure for his Grand Sonnerie. So perhaps not "Invent et Fecit" but "Améliorer et Fecit" A
Nay
I am not here to incite a forensic debate. I'm sure there are forensic experts who will find faults with my reasoning if I got into them, so I will avoid mentioning them. I have tremendous respect for F.P. Journe, I greatly respect his pieces, I've been t...
A different time
Thanks Patrick, always interesting to read your thoughts. In some ways it is unfair to compare any modern individual with historical figures as history fills in so many relational details. The impression I get is that A.L. Breguet was innovative in his wa...
Andrew, I'm an admirer of Journe.
Or, more accurately put, I admire and respect his watches, and also respect what I know of his approach to watchmaking. The Essay question is frustrating, however, because IMO it invites criticism of Journe, who of course is not the modern Breguet, as the...
Criticism
Hi Jed, Thanks for your candid comments. Of course my intention is always to promote interesting discussion and not unnecessary or undue criticism. The link between ALB and FPJ has been alluded to previously by others, but I don’t believe critically exami...
Business practices.
Andrew, I don't know enough about either man's business practices to comment, and I was perhaps to quick to limit the question to one of horological invention. I agree that Marcel's quote was a marvelous one! Best, CaliforniaJed
I think the statement is defensible ...
.... although I am SO biased. Anyway. As already stated there are clear parallels in a single individual creating a strong brand identity and aesthetics and staying true to himself and his vision through a period of long success. Designing the movements h...
Emotion
Hi Andreas, Thanks for these thoughts. I don’t mind biased opinions! Particularly when mixed with thoughtful commentary; that’s where the passion comes in. And I completely agree with you about the emotion that Journe watches generate. I have seen the des...
This has been a very thoughtful discussion. It is a credit to all of you.
I believe the ultimate comparaison between Abraham Louis Breguet et François-Paul Journe is a work in progress and that the historical interest will certainly be a subject of serious historical interest after we are all dust, but at minimum it should...
I'm with Andreas here
Putting sympathetic movements into a wrist watch may not count as an "invention" but FPJ aficionados admire it for the spirit, the different approach to achieving better accuracy without a multi-axis tourbillon and well, for being just plain beautiful to ...