F. P. Journe

The Octa Jour/Nuit in Ruthenium was conceived as an elegant demonstration of the Octa calibre’s versatility. Produced in a limited run of only 99 pieces in 2001, the model presents a restrained yet visually striking design, defined by its ruthenium-coated gold dial and 40 mm platinum case, a pairing that epitomizes F.P. Journe’s early aesthetic language.

The watch displays hours, minutes, small seconds, and a 24-hour day/night indicator at 7 o’clock, an understated yet poetic complication that reflects Journe’s appreciation for mechanical nuance. At 9 o’clock sits the five-day power-reserve indicator, a testament to the efficiency of the self-winding calibre 1300, the same foundational movement that underpins all Octa watches. Its rhodium-plated brass bridges mark it as part of the earliest and most collectible generation of Journe’s automatic watches.

Numbered 20/99, this example is both mechanically important and aesthetically distinctive. The subtle depth of the ruthenium dial, with its muted metallic sheen, gives the piece a contemporary yet timeless presence. As with all watches from the Ruthenium series, the Octa Jour/Nuit stands as both a symbol of Journe’s experimental mastery and a farewell to the brass-movement era — an essential chapter in the evolution of one of modern horology’s greatest independent watchmakers.