mrds
3734
My take on the AS
Nov 19, 2019,23:40 PM
Dear Christian, thank you very much for your thoughts and opinions. It took me a while to reflect on the AS to come up with my thoughts on it.
Let me start by explaining why I reacted to this piece. First, it definitely is a statement piece, a chef-d'oevre, and as such invites scrutiny and reactions. Second, and more importantly, I think the AS is a very intellectual watch, and for me there are some flaws in the intellecual approach of the AS. I have a deep admiration for Mr. Journe's ingenuity in all the work he did, for me he is probably the foremost creator of intelligent solutions to horological problems.
Why do I say the AS is an "intellectual watch"? If you take concepts like sidereal time and equation of time to contemplate time, space and the universe, I think you are deeply in intellectual territory. That sits fine with me, I like to take these concepts to link the mundane telling of time with the infinity of space. But then these concepts must be executed in a meaningful and coherant way. This is where the AS falls short, in my humble opinion.
Let me explain in more detail.
What doesn't work:
First and foremost, the minute repeater. In this watch, it just doesn't work for me. There is no connection to the Astronomic concept at all. If Mr. Journe made the AS an accustic watch without hands and use the MR to tell the real time, the equation of time and sidereal time, that would work. But like this, just adding a "plain" MR to the AS doesn't add value, it subtracts value.
The calendar: In an astronomical watch of this caliber, only a perpetual calendar is right. Not because it is more "noble" or more complicated than an annual calendar, but because it symbolizes eternity. I think this is essential for an astronomic watch dealing with the universe.
The second time zone: My first reaction is "travel watch", which the AS clearly isn't. I can understand it if you think of it as showing the time of a loved one who lives in a different place maybe. Still, I don't really see the reason for having the second time zone.
The seconds display, showing the real time, is connected to the sidereal time display. While the moon is attached to the real time, whereas logically it is connected to the sidereal time (the "time of stars").
What I love:
The backside is a proper work of art. Technically, aesthetically, everything is perfect!
The dial aperture showing the sunrise/sunset, I think it's a wonderful complication, simple, elegant and meaningful.
The Remontoir that powers all the complications: well done, in typical Journe thinking.
The overall dial layout and appearance is very nice.
Putting all these complications in an elegant 44mm case and to control it all by the crown. Very impressive.
My perfect AS:
Leave away the minute repeater. Replace the annual with a perpetual calendar. Leave away the second time zone, then show the real time in a conventional (non-regulateur) dial on the right hand side, making it more legible. Swap the subdials of seconds and moon so they are attached to the correct dials.
Then, Mr. Journe, you have created my perfect Astronomic Souveraine.
Best,
Daniel