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Call it what you want, but the "article" appears to have been merely an interview with FP Journe.
He's basically repeating information that he's stated previously and he provides an update on what to expect moving forward. Apparently he's got another surprise coming for Only Watch, which is cool. And he's got plans to introduce a new reference in 2027. He has always stated his desire to grow slowly and keep production numbers around 900 to 1000 pieces per year. He also acknowledges that he will need to grow simply to keep up with the demand to service the expanding number of existing watches. Kudos to him for his desire to maintain a level of production that is realistic and manageable. I think there must be a temptation to hire more people and ramp up production to meet demand, but the universe of expert watchmakers is limited as is the number of hours they can work per year. It's reassuring that he's unwilling to compromise on quality just to increase quantity. And it's also reassuring that he's taken steps to preserve the future of the company for decades to come without worry of takeovers by outsiders with potentially different philosophies for the brand.
I completely understand the frustration of some people who feel they've essentually been shut out of the brand. Acquiring one of his watches from a boutique is an exercise in patience. Unfortunately for enthusiasts, Watchbox is holding the largest inventory of Journe watches and they are only selling at a premium.
Interview: François-Paul Journe “My Next Launch Will Be In 2027” And “Growth Is Totally Excluded”
An excellent interview by Monochrome: monochrome-watches.com ...
I always love....
reading his thoughts and obviously, seeing his timepieces. I don't consider myself a potential customer of his, but I deeply respect and admire him and what he has done in this business! Thanks for sharing the interview here, cheers, Filip
Respect!
What a refreshing approach - so different from what we’ve seen from the groups (my friends might notice I have been somewhat critical on this point). Of course they are constituted differently and therefore have different motivations. While FPJ’s watches ...
I've got to call a spade a spade. This piece reads like a puff piece. Way too biased Pro Journe in this article...
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of the Journe brand and I find them to be some of the most beautiful designs in the industry. Over a decade ago, I even flew to NYC to cover the grand opening of the Manhattan boutique for this website. And my mother is a...
Unfortunately…
Just about everything - I’d say a solid 99% - of what I read these days in the online horological press is basically some sort of a puff piece. They’re all feeding at the trough and most of what I see has got to be straight from the PR machine. (Notable e...
You're A VERY Fair Man Esharp!
You're a very fair fella Esharp! I tried not to be too fawning in my JLC Golden Ratio event review. Basically by quietly stating I didn't get how the music and the Reverso were related. And also admitting I didn't understand the very modern music. I didn'...
Thank you Patrick!
See, this is the kind of conversation you get here but not elsewhere. And that’s a good point you make about auction prices and an elevated market generally. They’re a double-edge sword, I suppose. Yes, they leave money on the table which is captured by g...
Yes! Market demand, margins overall, etc. is all interesting stuff!
Grey market dealers typically take relatively little risk. They have very small store fronts so their overhead costs aren't terribly high. They only buy things with the intention of holding onto the product for a couple months at most. You can be a succes...
"The waiting time for my customers and collectors is currently ten years. "🤭ridiculous
I recall calling the boutique in Geneva and they told me the same thing. Then they invited me to go and check out my profile an I replied "sure, I will visit you in 2033 😅". They were surprised but I confirmed "I am looking to buy a watch and if you don't...
The headline is pretty misleading
Within the article Mr. Journe is quoted as saying “I don’t want to grow in volume;…” Other forms of growth seem to be on the table 😉.
To me it's the first time he reveals so much about the future of the brand - I read it with much enthusiasm :)
But yes, I agree that the writing was a bit too quick, but this happens sometimes
Sad!
You have built a great brand, great watches, but no one can buy it. I respect FPJ for his quality, but not even trying to become bigger to have more production to make a real impact? For what because he’s comfortable in his damn office (as he stated)?? Th...
Margins on FPJ should be exceptional.
Mismanagement is usually the culprit of low margins / profits. If FPJ is not able to have a healthy company, especially in these markets, then be very cautious for their future. Hopefully someone buys the company who knows how to operate it properly. As w...
I think you are misreading the meaning of margin in the interview…..
I didn’t understand it as monetary profit margin but the fact that the world of horology has focused more on innovation so it is much more difficult to come up with new ideas. It was easier ten years ago. …….”What remains to be done? Where the majority wo...
Thank you for posting this, Viken.
I think, no matter what people think of the writing style, being puff ect, there are some valid and important points. To recap a few… Reconfirming that he will not increase production numbers but will increase complicated watches and move away from simple...
Puff and padding aside, I enjoyed reading this to know more about FPJ and his ideas.
I just wonder how much MORE hype this kind of article is going to create for his watches. Phrases like "1,000 per year" "10-year waiting list", "allocation of watches is based on a wish list" will surely feed a frenzy of watch enthusiasts. I like to read ...
+2
Puff or not - it holds a lot of new information. On the wait list it is not 10 years across all models but it does in fact hold true on the most popular.
I devour everything FPJ related.
This has some interesting nuggets. I agree the writing itself could be better. But who cares. It’s an interview with the master. That’s worth the price of admission.
Call it what you want, but the "article" appears to have been merely an interview with FP Journe.
He's basically repeating information that he's stated previously and he provides an update on what to expect moving forward. Apparently he's got another surprise coming for Only Watch, which is cool. And he's got plans to introduce a new reference in 2027...
Patience
Thank you for posting. Personally after experiencing a variety of successful brands pursue growth through volume only to then destroy the quality and original ethos of the brand I applaud this self-restraint. Will I wait 10 years - I’m not sure I will liv...