Property of an Important West Coast Collector
F. P. Journe
Octa Calendrier 'Ruthenium' | A limited edition platinum automatic annual calendar wristwatch with retrograde date, ruthenium coated dial and brass movement, Circa 2004
Live auction begins on:
December 8, 03:00 PM GMT
Estimate
100,000 - 200,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: ruthenium
Caliber: cal. 1300 automatic ruthenium plated brass, jeweled
Case: platinum, sapphire crystal display back secured by six screws
Case number: 20/99-04Q
Closure: platinum F.P. Journe buckle
Size: 40 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: F.P. Journe presentation box with outer packaging, Certificate and Warranty paper identifying this piece as number 20/99-04Q and dated October 3rd, 2004, Operating Instructions booklet, one white gold F.P. Journe folding clasp, setting pin, loupe, and polishing cloth
A masterpiece of mechanical practicality, the Octa Calendrier in Ruthenium was the first automatic annual calendar wristwatch created by François-Paul Journe. Its ingenious design, distinguished by the asymmetrical calendar display and the long, curved date aperture across the dial, showcases Journe’s ability to blend intuitive functionality with pure visual beauty and balance.
Encased in platinum with a ruthenium coated gold dial, this rare edition, numbered 20/99, exudes quiet sophistication. The dial’s distinctive steel-grey hue contrasts beautifully with the luminous Arabic numerals and polished hands, while the long retrograde-style date display and day-month indicators are positioned for clarity and harmony.
Beneath the dial lies the automatic calibre 1300, constructed with rhodium-plated brass bridges and a massive off-center winding rotor, providing a remarkable five-day power reserve. The movement’s architecture emphasizes precision, energy efficiency, and durability — qualities that would define the Octa line for decades. As part of the final series to use brass movements before the maison’s transition to gold, the Octa Calendrier Ruthenium embodies both technical evolution and historical significance, making it one of the most intellectually satisfying and collectible early Journe creations.