Octa Automatique | 38mm | Stainless Steel

In 2015, thirty-eight sets were made to commemorate the end of the 38mm case size, which had been used in the majority of Journe’s early models. Made in steel, this Octa Automatique* is one of five models from the original set, and the series has also been discontinued. This example marks the end of an era, combined with an elusive and desirable case size and unusual metal. In 2001, the ‘Octa’ debuted as the first automatic movement to deliver 120 hours of precision timekeeping through reserved power. A year later, The Octa Automatique became F. P. Journe’s first automatic watch, produced between 2001 and 2014. In 2015, thirty-eight sets were made to commemorate the end of the 38mm case size in Journe's production watches, which had been used in the majority of Journe’s early models. This was the very first time that any dress watch from the brand, excluding a grande et petite sonnerie, was made available in steel. The five original pieces were each created in 38mm cases, and these included the Tourbillon Souverain, Chronomètre a Resonance, Octa Calendrier, Octa Automatique, and the Chronomètre Souverain. Four of the five pieces, including this Octa Automatique, in the collection have since been discontinued. While some special order 38mm cases have since been delivered, it is no longer possible to make such a request. The Octa Automatique is quintessentially F. P. Journe in both design language and movement. Housed in a classical 38mm dress watch case, the yellow dial is softly textured and displays a separate silver guilloché dial for the hours and minutes. The signature F. P. Journe style hands form a distinct contrast to the dial. Between eight and nine o’clock is a power reserve indicator of 120 hours, with a large date aperture above. Overall, the dial layout is clean and highly legible. While this piece is undeniably attractive, it is the movement that F. P. Journe is famed for. Since the introduction of the first ‘Reserve de Marche’ in 2001, mechanical F. P. Journe wristwatches can been divided into two main movement types – the manually-wound Souverain and self-winding Octa (Latin for ‘eight’ or ‘infinite’). Impressively, all variations within F. P Journe’s ‘Octa’ calibres are identical, both in diameter and thickness, incorporating fully-integrated complications within the same volume. This automatic, self-winding F. P. Journe caliber 1300.3 movement is 18-carat rose gold, with circular Côtes de Genève, constructed with 39 jewels and a shock absorber mechanism. It further features a straight-line lever escapement, and monometallic 4-arm balance with 4 timing weights, adjusted to 5 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring and off-centre, bi-directional 22-carat gold guilloche rotor. Closer look Brand: F. P. Journe Model: Octa Automatique - Special Edition Movement: automatic calibre 1300.3 Functions: date, hours, minutes, sub-seconds, power reserve indicator Features: steel case, rose gold movement Case material: stainless steel Case diameter: 38mm Case thickness: 10mm Lug-to-lug: 45mm Crystal: sapphire front & back Strap: grained leather curved strap from our own collection, F. P. Journe brown alligator strap, F. P. Journe stainless steel deployant clasp Lug width: 20 x 19mm (curved) Year: 2015 Accompanying materials: F. P. Journe outer cardboard box, photocopy of certificate of warranty (signed, stamped & dated) Condition This stainless steel F. P. Journe Octa Automatique is in excellent overall condition. The case and lugs show virtually no signs of wear, only very light superficial marks on the very surface of the material. The dial, hands, and movement are free of imperfections and have been well preserved. All hallmarks and engravings are well defined. Warranty The watch comes with a two-year, limited warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.