Doing Good by 30%, and Celebrating 10 Years

This is the Centigraphe Souverain Anniversary and it has been created to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the F.P. Journe boutiques.  This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong boutique and the Tokyo boutique.  

Courtesy of F.P. Journe

For the Hong Kong version there will be 20 pieces, and 10 for their Tokyo colleagues.

But as you know, at Tempus Fugit we particularly appreciate brands that go out of their way to help do something positive to benefit others.  So I will let the good folks at F.P. Journe tell you in their own words -

The Centigraphe Souverain contributes to the medical research of the ICM
In purchasing the Centigraphe, you are also supporting the medical research carried out by the ICM – Institute of Brain and Spinal Cord in Paris - to help find a cure for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis...

Along with Professor Gérard Saillant, Luc Besson, Jean Réno, Jean Todt, Michelle Yeoh and Michael Schumacher, amongst others, François-Paul Journe has committed to donating 30% of the profits from the sale of each Centigraphe to the ICM, with no time limit. (www.icm-institute.org) 

30% of profit is no small number, and the folks at F.P. Journe are to be commended, for this is a very, very positive step and one that other brands should take notice of.

But this is, after all, a blog about watches.  So here are the pertinents -

Movement 

Calibre 1506 Manual winding
Movement in 18K rose gold 

Dimensions of the Movement 

Overall diameter:
34.40 mm 

Casing-up diameter:
34.00 mm
Overall height:
5.60 mm
Height of hands:
1.45 mm 

Balance 

Free-sprung balance
Four adjustable inertia weights Anachron balance spring Mobile stud holders
Pinned GE stud
Spring pinned to the collet 

Frequency:
21,600v/h (3Hz)
Inertia:
10.10 mg/cm2
Angle of lift:
52° 

Escapement 

In-line lever escapement - 15-tooth escape wheel 

Indications 

Central hours and minutes
One-second chronograph:
register at 10 o’clock 

20-seconds chronograph:
register at 2 o’clock
10-minutes chronograph:
register at 6 o’clock 

Chronograph
Separate chronograph train driven by directly from the mainspring 
1/100th second readout 

Power Reserve 

Over 80 hours with the chronograph stopped 
24 hours with the chronograph running 

Finishes 

Circular stripes on the bridges
Circular graining on the baseplate
Polished screw heads with chamfered slots 
Pegs with polished rounded ends 
Straight-grained steel work 

Case 

Titanium grade 5, polished 
Diameter: 40.00 mm 
Total height: 10.70 mm 

Control rocker 

18K red Gold
Rocker arm to start, stop and zero the chronograph

Crown 

18K red Gold
Three-position winding crown 
Position 0, disengaged 
Position 1, winding
Position 2, time-setting 

Dial 

Ruthenium with sapphire registers and polished steel circle 

Strap 

Burgundy alligator with 18K red Gold clasp 

Number of Parts 

Movement without dial 284 
Cased up with strap 324

Jewels  50 

Rock Stars

This past BaselWorld was different for a lot of reasons.  

New buildings, new "seating arrangements, some new brands.  But one of the key things that I noticed was the lack of charisma.

I think that we are approaching an almost parallel tipping point to the one that saw the watch world emerge from the Quartz Crisis 


Now it is really almost exclusively about products, about partnerships, but we see and hear less and less about the people.  It was not too long ago that by hanging out in the lobby of the Ramada you were afforded the best seat in the house.  It was, and in many cases still is, where all the real business is taking place.  You get yourself a coffee, hunker down and you will see a "who's who" of the industry.  
Ever wonder where the real deals are struck?  Usually over a second coffee, in quiet consultation.

There was one pure moment of excitement - François-Paul Journe himself walked through, and all conversations stopped.  I nearly broke my neck trying to see what was going on!  I don't think I have ever seen a moment like that, but there you have it.

So yes, products are important, brands are important - but let's not forget the rock stars!  I want to know when "Elvis has left the building"!

It's Official - the Cadraniers and Boitiers de Geneve Innauguration

Where do these come from?

Courtesy of F.P. Journe

I'm glad you asked!  F.P. Journe inaugurated a new facility for the production of cases, dials and metal bracelets.  And I am glad to say that the spirit of cooperation is alive and well, because one of the other shareholders in Cadraniers de Genève is none other than Vacheron Constantin.

Courtesy of F.P. Journe

Here's the scoop, straight from F.P. Journe -

The official inauguration of the Cadraniers de Genève and the Boîtiers de Genève took place last Tuesday at 18h00 in a common building located in the district of Meyrin, canton of Geneva, at 11 rue Emma Kammacher. This new prestigious watchmaking pole reunites, under the same roof, the whole of the watch casing production (dials, cases and metal bracelets) on 2'600 m2.

The Cadraniers de Genève and the Boîtiers de Genève were inaugurated by Mr. Monsieur Pierre- François Unger, President of the Swiss State Council, and by Mr. Pierre-Alain Tschudi, Mayor of Meyrin, who cut the official ribbon in company of the 2 Directors of both companies.

François-Paul Journe, CEO and Founder of F.P.Journe, and Juan-Carlos Torres, CEO of Vacheron Constantin, co-shareholder of the Cadraniers de Genève, welcomed their guests, clients, collectors, and members of the press, who came to discover the making of very high end watch dials and cases.
Mr Pierre-Alain Tschudi and Mr Pierre-François Unger wished a warm welcome to the 2 companies in Meyrin and congratulated the growth of the watchmaking industry in the area, with the soon to come Richemont campus, and the development of employment opportunities.

Mr Pierre-François Unger imbued with a great knowledge and passion for horology, underlined in his speech, his admiration for the outstanding development of F.P.Journe, and his admiration - shared by Mr Juan-Carlos Torres - for the authenticity and engagement in his work. He also celebrated the care and high craftsman value brought to the making of these high end dials and cases; those same values shared in the manufacturing of F.P.Journe’s innovative and exclusive movements.