F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance Pre-Production (No. 022/99R)
Phillips will auction a pre-production F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance, serial number 022/99R, in November. This example, delivered to its original owner in 1999, predates the model's official commercial launch and is believed to be one of only ten such pre-production pieces in existence. The auction follows a trend of record-breaking sales for F.P. Journe's independent timepieces, particularly the Chronomètre à Résonance.
- Pre-production Chronomètre à Résonance, serial number 022/99R
- Delivered to original owner in 1999
- Estimated to fetch CHF 500,000 to CHF 1 million
- 38mm platinum case
- Pink gold dial
- Estimated ten or so pre-production models exist
This pre-production Chronomètre à Résonance, serial number 022/99R, was delivered to its original owner in 1999, a year before the model's commercial launch.
The watch features a 38mm platinum case and a shiny pink gold dial, with finishing on the dial and brass movement appearing less refined than later examples.
Phillips estimates that only about ten pre-production models of the Chronomètre à Résonance are believed to exist.
The serial number 022/99R was chosen by the owner to match his birthday (the 22nd), with R99 indicating the year of manufacture.
F.P. Journe's own pre-production Résonance has the serial number 021, but the watchmaker could not confirm which pre-production model was the first commercially delivered.
The Chronomètre à Résonance was the first wristwatch to successfully implement the concept of resonance, synchronizing two movements with separate balances.
The watch will be offered at Phillips' Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV on November 7 and 8.