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Journe Watch Shatters Records at Auction
15 Jun
Summary
- F.P. Journe watch sold for $13.92 million at Phillips auction.
- This sale set a new record for an independent watchmaker's work.
- The watch was a rare 'Souscription' model from 2000.
François-Paul Journe's reign as the preeminent independent watchmaker was solidified this past weekend with a record-shattering auction result. His F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance "Souscription, No. 007" fetched an incredible $13.92 million at Phillips New York: Watch Auction XIV. This sale not only made it the most expensive watch ever sold by Journe but also the highest price for any timepiece by an independent watchmaker and any 21st-century watch at a commercial auction.
The Chronomètre à Résonance, introduced in 2000, masterfully adapted the centuries-old principle of resonance for a wristwatch. This particular example, "Souscription, No. 007," is one of only twenty early production pieces offered through a subscription system between 1999 and 2000. It is believed to be one of only two cased in platinum and pink gold with a matching pink gold dial, adding to its rarity and appeal.
Despite the record-breaking price, Journe's representatives expressed reservations about such high valuations, warning of collectors acquiring timepieces purely as assets rather than for their horological value. The true significance of "Souscription No. 007" lies in its history, representing a gamble by twenty collectors on an emerging watchmaker, a trust that has now been repaid immensely over the past twenty-six years.
