About a year ago F.P. Journe celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Octa caliber with the Octa Automatique Série Limité, today the independent brand presents the new Octa Automatique in the fixed collection with two brand new versions in rose gold or platinum.

The basics of the new Octa Automatique

The newcomers of F.P. Journe will be crafted in a 42 or 40 mm case, in 6N 18ct red gold. or platinum. This will allow collectors to choose the size and configuration that best suits their tastes.

It is now known that in the world of watches there is a continuous debate on which measures are more proportionate or “better” than others, this choice will put the heart in peace for the lucky few who will be able to have an allocation of these new watches.

The aesthetics of this model has not changed except for some technical measures aimed at improving its aesthetics and readability. For example, compared to the first Octa 20 years ago, the Great Date window has been enlarged and now measures 4.7 x 2.6 mm for an easy reading.

The case thickness for all versions is 10.7mm, which we could consider proportionate for the watch it is. Typically, watches are considered ultra-thin from 7-8.5mm down, so taking into account the elégante with 7.5mm and the Astronomic Souverain with 13.7mm, the new Octa are positioned roughly halfway between the two.

The caliber 1300.3 by F.P. Journe

Caliber 1300.3 is now a star. The idea of ​​the Octa calibers is to offer the best in precision and autonomy performance. With 160 hours of power reserve, it is Journe’s largest power reserve mechanical caliber. This mechanism also guarantees chronometric precision of 120 hours as it has the constant energy required for optimal operation.

The dials

For the dials, Journe chose gray gold for the platinum version and 5N red gold for the edition with the case in the same metal. Like any watch from this independent brand, the information on the dial is extremely legible and balanced, nothing in the design is left to chance.

The power reserve is placed at 9 o’clock, which ranges from 0 to 120, at around 12 o’clock the instant Grand Date window is placed, while the hours, minutes and seconds are placed on the right side in a classic Journe-style sub-dial.

Conclusions

F.P. Journe is enjoying unprecedented success and it’s not hard to see why. Aesthetically speaking, the watches have a classic but one-of-a-kind aesthetic, the sub-dial with its frame, proportions, finishes … These new Octa Automatique represent interesting versions for those who are approaching to collect the works of this watchmaker . Sure the élégante is the entry level model (considering the retail price level), but these new ones are the option we would most consider as the first step towards Journe’s mechanical watchmaking.

The price of the new Octa Automatique will be

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