Where do I even begin with F.P. Journe? Started by the man himself in 1999, F.P. Journe had previously spent quite a few years restoring and producing movements and also made a couple of pocket watches during that time. It took quite a few years before his brand went from something only a hardcore collector could appreciate to being appreciated by a more mainstream audience and today, he is considered by many as one of the most successful and important independent brands to have emerged out of the past few decades.
In my opinion, F.P. Journe possesses all the traits that make an independent watch atelier successful and desirable—exceptional craftsmanship, an unmistakable aesthetic, and tightly controlled annual production quantities, with only about 1,000 pieces made each year. This ensures that they are exclusive enough that people consider any F.P. Journe watch a rare piece, but not so rare to the point that it becomes esoteric. Of course, there are also other independent brands like Roger Smith and Philippe Dufour, both of who are considered godfathers of high horology, but they make so few pieces a year that the average watch collector would not know about them, let alone be able to get their hands on one. Mention F.P. Journe though, and it’s a completely different story altogether.
If you look at F.P. Journe’s history of designs, the Octa Line Sport collection stands out as one of F.P. Journe's more unconventional offerings to date. As a brand that is known more for its refined and elegant dress watches, F.P. Journe surprised many when he introduced the Line Sport in 2012, with this particular Automatique Réserve model being a much later variant fitted with a full grade 5 titanium case and a matching bracelet, both of which are beautifully matte finished. Weighing only around 83 grams with the full bracelet, the watch is incredibly light and comfortable to wear on the wrist. While I usually prefer watches with some heft to them, the Automatique Réserve is one watch that I’d gladly make an exception for, thanks to its distinctively sporty design and bold aesthetics.
Speaking of aesthetics, the Automatique Réserve combines sporty elements with the unmistakable design language of F.P. Journe. Looking at the watch as a whole, the 44mm x 11mm titanium case is adorned with a bezel inlaid with ceramic. On the slate grey dial, you'll find a slightly off-centred date window at 12:30, just below the 'Octa S' branding, along with a power reserve indicator at 10:30, a day/night indicator at 9:00, and a crisp white running seconds at 6:00 with a Chermin de Fer outer track. The central hands are made of steel and filled with luminescent material, while the power reserve hand is crafted from ivory-coloured steel. The slim red small seconds hand within the 6:00 sub-dial is made of lacquered titanium, adding a subtle yet striking detail that complements the red accents scattered across the anthracite-coloured dial. Despite the rich array of features on the dial, nothing feels overcrowded; every element is carefully positioned, ensuring optimal legibility and a sense of balance.
Powering this watch from within is the classic Octa Cal.1300.3, a self-winding movement shared by other models within the Octa lineage, but with the unique distinction of being crafted entirely from ultra-light aluminium. The level of finishing is also just as expected from a prestigious independent watchmaker like F.P. Journe, with excellent Côte de Genève gracing the bridges, impeccable perlage on the baseplate, chamfered grained wheels, and beautifully polished screw heads throughout. In terms of power reserve, the Octa Cal. 1300.3 boasts an impressive 120-hour (5 days) reserve on a full wind.
When dealing with an F.P. Journe timepiece, it requires some effort and distinction to fully appreciate and comprehend the design nuances the brand brings to the table, but when you do, you will come to understand why F.P. Journe is so loved by watch enthusiasts/collectors around the world. F.P. Journe’s motto ‘Invenit et Fecit’, which translates from Latin to ‘Invent and Create’, speaks volumes about his horological works of art.
To this day, F.P. Journe has stuck closely to this mantra, and he continues to invent his own in-house movements. Furthermore, everything else is also in-house, even to the point of having his own dedicated case maker and dial maker. For a small independent brand that makes less than 1,000 pieces a year, I tip my hat off to F.P. Journe.
