This is the story of how an unlikely ruffian from Marseille came to be regarded as the genius watchmaker of a generation. This week, Erik & Max tell the story of François-Paul Journe from expulsion to working with Asprey and sketching on napkins. While the story dominates two-thirds of the episode, the final third is dedicated to the watches themselves including a framework for how to separate generations of the brass pieces. This episode is an introduction to one of the most polarizing, eccentric, and relevant watchmakers working today (even if some of this history may have been embellished over time).  

Links Mentioned:

Kiran Shekar’s Book:

https://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&goto=7012514&rid=12189

Pierre Halimi Interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm1DAbRK3vA

HSNY Talk:

https://youtu.be/FqLEP3xNb3U?si=JQC8V0QsvcbWEbbM

ACM Guide:

https://www.acollectedman.com/blogs/journal/the-story-of-early-f-p-journe

Planetary Clock for Asprey:

https://img.thehourglass.com/tachyon/2024/12/FP-Journe-Savoir-Faire-Feature-Planetarium-Clock.jpg

FP Journe Breguet Sympathique Clock:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/f.p.-journe-x-tha-for-breguet/216337

https://watchesbysjx.com/2025/05/fp-journe-breguet-sympathique-no-1.html

The Early Tourbillon Which Sold at 8.36M:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/fp-journe/205675?fromSearch=fp%20journe%20tourbillon

Initial Sketches of the Collection (Credit to Kiran Shekar’s Above Book):

https://imgur.com/a/Toiw3XL

Basel 99 With the Swine Quote:

https://thejourneguy.com/the-first-question-basel-1999/

‘Resonnance’ Prototype:

https://monochrome-watches.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FP-Journe-Chronometre-a-Resonance-prototype-2.jpg

——

Tourbillon:

Souscription Number 1:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/fp-journe/CH080221/138

Second Generation:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/fp-journe/189240

Ruthenium:

https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/tourbillon-remontoir-ruthenium-dial-platinum

ACM’s Helpful Table for Generations:

https://www.acollectedman.com/cdn/shop/files/Screenshot_2021-01-28_at_11.21.47_4438df7f-939e-4bbc-bc49-50b69b162777_1728x.png

—— 

Resonance:

Pre-Production:

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/important-watches-4/resonance-pre-production-a-platinum-dual-time-zone

Souscription Resonance:

https://watchesbysjx.com/2020/05/fp-journe-souscription-tourbillon-resonance-phillips-geneva.html

4th Generation:

https://hairspring.com/collections/exclusives/products/chronometre-a-resonance-brass-movement-platinum

ACM’s Helpful Table of Generations:

https://www.acollectedman.com/cdn/shop/files/A_Collectors_Guide_early_brass_Francois_Paul_Journe_Production_Numbers_A_Collected_Man_London2_2048x2048_50855f45-0381-4ba0-b9b4-dac59dedfff9_1728x.png

Parking Meter Resonance:

https://hairspring.com/blogs/finds/mop-parking-meter-fp-journe-chronometre-a-resonance

—— 

Octa Collection (RdM):

RdM Prototype:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/fp-journe/NY080119/73

Straight Côtes de Genève:

https://thejourneguy.com/the-octa-straight-cotes-de-geneve/

Fantastic Guide to the Octa Chronographe:

https://watch4moi.com/f-p-journe-octa-chronographe/

Calendrier:

https://hairspring.com/products/octa-calendrier-pink-gold

——

George Daniels CS Gift:

https://www.rescapement.com/blog/how-did-i-miss-that-the-chronometre-souverain-fp-journe-gifted-to-george-daniels-sold-at-auction-last-year

Osama Sendi Quote Source:

https://hairspring.com/blogs/journal/market-insights-fp-journe-over-the-last-decade

Only Wrist:

RO QP MoP:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/audemars-piguet/162921

AP QP MoP:

https://hairspring.com/products/25657or-quantieme-perpetuel-mother-of-pearl-dial-pink-gold

5554ST:

https://www.phillips.com/detail/audemars-piguet/166220

Zeitwerk Striking Time:

https://langepedia.com/a-lange-sohne-zeitwerk/zeitwerk-striking-time/

JLC Parking Meter:

https://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/us-en/watches/collectibles/qve85801