1976
Graduates from the Ecole d'horlogerie de Paris
"By earning my watchmaker's diploma, I left scholastic rhytms behind me, with a feeling of gaining incredible freedom!"
F.P.Journe
1977
Begins a period spent in his uncle's antique watch restoration workshop in Paris.
"My eight-year period of working with my uncle Michel Journe allowed me to discover the origins of watchmaking up until the 19th century and enabled me to meet many important collectors"
F.P.Journe
1979
François-Paul Journe conceives, at the age of 22, the mechanism of a plantarium for Aspre in London, commissioned by the ateliers P-G Brun in Paris.
Planetarium in yellow and white gold, diamond and rubbies, and 12 pannels in lapiz-lazulis, decorated with the zodiac signs representing the 12 months of the year.
It features a synchronised pendulum with an arm supporting a wheel train animating the different planets turning around the sun: The Earth with its satellite, Venus and Mercury.
1982
Builds his first tourbillon pocket-watch.
"Fascinated by the exceptional tourbillon watches that I had the opportunity to admire in my uncle's workshop, but without the financial means to acquire any, I decided to build my own tourbillon chronometer.
Working with the little experience I had behind me, I devoted all my free time to this project and it took me five years to complete it.
I crafetd every single component as well as the case in gold and silver. This watch is still part of my collection."
F.P.Journe
1985
Sets up his first workshop on the rue de Verneuil in Paris.
"I decided to set up on my own in a workshop facing onto a courtyard, in order to enjoy a calm environment in which to continue creating tailor-made watches for collectors."
F.P.Journe
1986
Creation of an automatic chronometer pocket-watch.
"My fifth creation with fusée and chain housing a five-second remontoir and detent escapement. The rock crystal dial reveals the retrograde perpetual calendar mechanism with the equation of time.
This creation is inspired by the famous watch ordered from Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) for Marie-Antoinette"
F.P.Journe
1987
Creates a planetary pocket-watch.
"The astronomic planetary-watch was the sixth watch I made. It was specially commissioned by a collector of scientific objects."
F.P.Journe
1987
Prize awarded by the Fondation de la Vocation Bleustein-Blanchet.
"Becoming a laureate of the "Fondation de la Vocation", of which only thirty per year are chosen from among thousands of candidates, was both an honour and a source of great encouragement."
F.P.Journe
1988
Creates the "pendule sympathique" clock for Asprey's of London.
"The creation of the "Sympatique" clock was an extremely thrilling experience.
We owe the invention of the first of this kind to Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), but the technical specifications of my version were more complex."
F.P.Journe
1989
Balancier d'Or Prize awarded at the Watchmakers' Convention in Madrid.
"At the prize-giving ceremony for this award, I had absolutely no idea that around eight hundred guests would be sharing this moment.
I was totally taken by surprise and it proved to be an unforgettable occasion!"
F.P.Journe
1989
Establishes a movement Manufacture in Switzerland.
"This Manufacture was intended to build on the various concepts I had developed for creaating one-o-a-kind models and creating products for watch brands.
I left it later to set up my own firm in Geneva"
F.P.Journe
1991
The first wristwatch.
"I created my remontoir system in 1982 when making my second pocket-watch.
The prototype of the "Tourbillon Souverain" model, incorporating a remontoir within a wristwatch for the very first time, was made in 1991.
I crafted the movement as well as the gear-trains entirely in eighteen-carat gold. It is still part of my collection"
F.P.Journe
1994
Gaia Watchmaker of the Year award from the Musée de l'Homme et du Temps.
"Through the personalities it is honouring, this Prize testifies to the quality of the MIH and the efforts of Mrs Catherine Cardinal who was running this museum and founded the Prize."
F.P.Journe
1996
Creates TIM SA in Geneva, devoted to developing exclusive calibres in the service various brands.
"The creation of this structure was intended to give shape to my vision of contemporary and innovative Haute Horlogerie.
I began this activity with just one watchmaker."
F.P.Journe
1999
Launches a collection of chronometers signed F.P.Journe - Inventit et Fecit-
"The collection of chronometers carrying my name and the label of authenticity "Inventit et fecit" was met with tremendous success when presented at the Basel Show.
However, I had drawn the aesthetic lines of the collection five years earlier."
F.P.Journe
1999
World premiere: Presents the first tourbillon wristwatch with remontoir (collection Souveraine).
"I created my remontoir system in 1982 when making my second pocket-watch.
The prototype of the "Tourbillon Souverain" model, incorporating a remontoir within a wristwatch for the very first time, was made in 1991.
I crafted the movement as well as the gear-trains in eighteen-carat gold. It is still part of my collection."
F.P.Journe
2000
Presents the "Sonnerie Souveraine" in homage to the new Millennium.
"The "Sonnerie Souveraine" was extremely complex to make due to its innovative concept, revealing part of the mechanism through the dial. It is now part of a private collection"
F.P.Journe
2000
World premiere: Invents the first resonance wristwatch (collection Souveraine)
"I began my research into the phenomenon of resonance in 1983, when creating the first resonance wristwatch.
Courage and sheer stubbornness were my best weappons in my daily struggle to achieve this creation.
Today, the "Chronomètre à Résonance" fully satisfies my timekeeping demands."
F.P.Journe
2000
Establishes the workshops of the brand in the centre of Geneva.
"Moving from one employee to fifty implied finding a special location. It is located in a building dating back 1892, in the heart of the Plainpalais district in the centre of Geneva which has become the hub of contemporary art.
It is there that we produce 3 to 4 watches per day."
F.P.Journe
2001
Introduces the first F.P.Journe automatic movement: the first in the world to ensure precision timekeeping performances for five full days when not worn. (Collection Octa)
"The creation of the Octa calibre was a real challenge for me, pertly in terms of chronometry or timekeeping, and partly with respect to day-to-day comfort.
I thus devised an automatic winding mechannical movement with a large power-reserve (120 hours) that could incorporate many future complications within the same volume.
All models in the Octa collection are od identiccal size and thickness."
F.P.Journe
2001
Becomes associated with the American company Harry WInston in creating eighteen exceptional one-of-a-kind creations constituting the Opus One collection.
"I agreed to the proposal to work with Harry Winston, since there are many parallels between our work ethic and creativity. the jeweller works with natural materials (metals and precious stones), whereas a watchmaker uses man-made alloys (such as brass, bronze, steel, corundum) in crafting movement.
This proved an extremely beautiful encounter; an act accomplished by aesthetes at the service of the exclusive and the exceptional, culminating in the production of eighteen pieces signed Opus One."
F.P.Journe
2002
Acquires the first item in the collection of Montres Journe SA: the resonance regulator made around 1780 by the famous French watchmaker Antide Janvier.
"The acquisition of this regulator was an extremely emotional moment for me, since it was made circa 1780 by one of the most brillant French watchmakers in history: Antide Janvier. It symbolises the link between the creation of my "Chronomètre à Résonance" and the most interesting 18th century research.
It is one of the world's most beautiful regulators, which was the first known application of the phenomenon of resonance, along with two other such pieces currently on display in the PAtek Philippe Museum in Geneva and the Paul Dupuis Museum in Toulouse. It is now part of the Montres Journe SA collection."
F.P.Journe
2002
Win the special prize of the jury of the “Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève” for the Octa calendrier model.
2003
Opening of the first Boutique showroom in Tokyo: Montres Journe Japon KK.
The F.P.Journe -Inventit et Fecit- brand has opened a new watch shoroom in the Omotesando district, Tokyo's equivalent of the Parisian St.Germain-des-Prés, a stone's throw away from the superb Nezu museum.
An elaborate place with lounge, bar and a watchmaking library where collectors and devotees of fine watchmaking will be able to get together and discuss their shared passion, or acquire chronometers which are produced in limited numbers of a few hundred a year. A location nestling within one of the most beautiful creations by the architet of spirituality: Mr. Tadao Ando.
Already a reference for the initiated in the field of contemporary chronometry.
2003
Japan, the"Chronomètre à Résonance" is winning the Jury Award for the "Watch of the Year".
2004
Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève:
Receives the ultimate award "L'Aiguille d'Or" (The Golden Hand) for his creation the Tourbillon Souverain.
2004
In Japan, The Tourbillon Souverain is awarded the Grand Prize "Watch of the Year".
2005
2005 Edition of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, F.P.Journe receives the "Favourites men's watch" award for the Chronomètre Souverain.
2006
Japan, the Sonnerie Souveraine is awarded the Prize "Watch of the Year".
2006
Opening of a Boutique Showroom in Hong Kong.
On October 3, 2006, F.P.Journe opens a Boutique Showroom in Princes Building, in the historical centre of Hong Kong.
2006
Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix:
Receives the ultimate award "Aiguille d'Or" (The Golden Hand) for his model the Sonnerie Souveraine.
2006
François-Paul Journe honoured with the title of "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" by the French Minister of Culture.
2007
Opening of a Boutique Showroom in Geneva.
On April 17, 2007, F.P.Journe opens a Boutique Showroom in PLace Longemalle, in the historical centre of Geneva.
2007
Opening of a Boutique Showroom in Florida.
On December 4, 2007, F.P.JOurne opens a Boutique Showroom on the renowned Mizner Park in Boca Raton.
2007
Inauguration of the new Exhibition Space of the Manufacture on April 17, 2007.
2007
Exhibition Steel Time in the new Exhibition Space of the Manufacture from October 15 to December 21, 2007.
2008
Presentation of the new ultra slim Minute Repeater Annual salon in the Exhibition room of the Manufacture from April 7 to 12.
2008
Répétition Minute Souveraine Watch of the Year in LOS RELOJES DEL ANO 2008.
François-Paul Journe receives the awards "Watch of the Year" in LOS RELOJES DAL ANO 2008 for the Répétition Minute Souveraine in the categoriy Grand Complication.
2008
Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix:
Receives the ultimate award "Aiguille d'Or" (The Golden Hand) for the Centigraphe Souverain.
2008
Boutique Paris Opening December 2008.
2009
Champions of Time in China (with Time Square Magazine) awards F.P.Journe with "Best Technique Innovation Watch" 2008 for the ultra slim Minute Repeater.
2009
The Centigraphe Souverain is awarded "Watch of the Year" 2008 on Timezone.com.
2009
Presentation of the Timezone.com Trophy "Watch of the Year 2008" in the exhibition room of the Manufacture.
2009
Boutique F.P.Journe New York - Opening November 2009.
2009
Boutique F.P.Journe Pékin - Opening November 2009.
2010
1st Anniversary of the F.P.Journe Boutique in New York.
2010
Champions of Time, China Award "Best Technical Innovation" for the Vagabondage II.
2010
Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève: F.P.Journe awarded for the 7th time.
Grand Complication Prize for the Chronoètre à Résonance.
2011
Presentation of the Octa UTC during the annual exhibition of January at the F.P.Journe Manucafture.
2011
The Centigraphe Sport N° 001 sold at auction at Christie's as a World Premiere at Christie's for close to ten times its original price.
The first wristwatch of the lineSport entirely in aluminium, case, bracelet and movement was sold in Hong Kong in June 2011 in favour of the Japanese victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
2011
Premiere launch of the Octa Sport in New York Boutique, November 30.
2011
Opening of the first Espace F.P.Journe in Buenos Aires Argentina with our partner Simonetta Orsini, Petit Palais, December 5th.
2011
F.P.Journe receives a new distinction at the New York Lotos Club, December 1st.
2012
Launch of the Octa Sport.
Second watch of the lineSport collection during the January annual exhibition at the F.P.Journe Manufacture.
2012
F.P.Journe signs a partnership with Jean Alesi and Lotus to race the 500 miles of Indianapolis, 27 May.
2012
The Forbes Galleries in New York exhibit the Steel Time COllection from April 15 to September 15.
An historic F.P.Journe collection of 250 steel in burnished steel made between 1850 and 1910.
2012
In homage to the partnership with Jean Alesi.
Launch of the Limited Series of 99 pieces Octa Sport Indy 500.
2012
Launch of the Chronomètre Optimum in the 8 F.P.Journe Boutiques of Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Geneva, Paris, New York, Miami and Boca Raton.
2013
Launch of the new Quantième Perpétuel during the annual watch show (January).
2013
An F.P.Journe watch starring in the movie Möbius on the wrist of Jean Dujardin.