F.P. Journe Élégante Titanium

No one will fault you for wearing a Rolex or Omega around here. But if you want something truly special — something from a small batch made by hand each year — you’re going to have to look elsewhere. 

You’re going to have to look at F.P. Journe.

Journe is one of the world’s foremost living watchmakers, having begun his studies at the age of 15. At the age of 19, he received his watchmaking diploma at the École d'Horlogerie in Paris. His namesake timepieces are complicated works of horological art, the result of in-house ideation, design, and construction. In short: Journe is a master craftsman of the highest order, and his creations are some of the most desirable timepieces on Earth.

This particular Journe, however, is extraordinary even by this remarkable watchmaker’s standards: A member of the Élégante collection — a dedicated line of ladies’ watches — it contains an innovative, electro-mechanical movement that allows it to conserve energy. After the watch is idle for 35 minutes, it goes into a standby mode, during which its microprocessor continues to keep time, but the hands stop moving. Once the Élégante is picked up, the hands move to the proper place and continue keeping time. With this system, the watch has an effective power reserve of eight to 10 years in use, and 18 years in standby mode. Incredible!

This Élégante dates to the 2020s. Housed in a 35mm Titanium Flat Tortue case with white cloisonné inserts, a stylized crown, and a sapphire crystal, it features a luminescent white central dial encased within an outer steel housing secured by four screws. The dial, with its blued ‘Arabic’ indices, stylized blue handset, outer ‘railroad’ minute track, sub-seconds counter above 6 o’clock, and exposed balance makes for an avant-garde melding of classical and contemporary design elements.

Powered by the Calibre 1210 electro-mechanical movement with quartz crystal, dual rotors, and dedicated processor, this impressive feat of mechanical and industrial engineering comes paired to a comfortable rubber strap with deployant buckle.

While many — indeed, most! — brands merely gloss over the entire category of ladies’ watches, F.P. Journe has given careful consideration to female collectors by designing a forward-thinking, ultra-elegant, contemporary wristwatch. 

Bravo, Monsieur Journe.

François-Paul Journe is one of the most well respected independent watchmakers in the world. A three-time winner of the Aiguille d’Or grand prize from the Fondation du Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, he is a watchmaker’s watchmaker, focusing on complicated pieces made in-house to the tune of roughly 800 watches per year.

Born in Marseille in 1957, Journe began his watchmaking education at just 15 years old, receiving his watchmaking diploma at the École d'Horlogerie in Paris in 1976. He opened a studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in 1985, and subsequently relocated to the Swiss Jura in 1989, where he began work on his first tourbillon wristwatch. Ten years later, he established his eponymous firm in Geneva.

F.P. Journe builds precision chronometers outfitted with cases from its own case maker, and dials from its own dial maker. Each timepiece is printed with the motto ‘Invenit et Fecit,’ Latin for ‘(He) invented it and made it,’ indicating in-house construction, vertical integration, and the highest possible standards. The recipient of numerous patents, Journe’s horological innovations have earned him plaudits from across the industry.

Today, F.P. Journe operates 10 boutiques around the world. Its incredibly well regarded wares have raised over two million CHF for various charities via auctions, only furthering to cement both the brand and the man in the annals of horological history.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.