At a time when watch brands favoured retailers for their distribution, François-Paul Journe chose not to follow convention. He was the first to open a subsidiary and a boutique under his own name in Aoyama, in central Tokyo. He took a bold step, relying above all on his instinct and his admiration for Japan, a country that cultivates both modernity and age-old traditions.
Just a stone's throw from the Nezu Museum, in the Omotesando district, the F.P.Journe Boutique opened its doors in September 2003 inside 'La Collezione', the work of Tadao Ando, the architect of spirituality, celebrated in his country as a national treasure, whose minimalist style is characterised by geometric shapes in concrete and a subtle mastery of natural light. Initially housed on the 1st floor, the installation of a monumental double staircase in April 2004 made it possible to connect the ground floor, bringing the total surface area to 300 m2.
To echo the curves of the balustrade, display cases were specially designed by Swiss metalworker Xavier Dietlin. They would be called "Archange". Timeless, they resemble sculptures and are still the common thread running through all the F.P.Journe Boutiques.
The layout was entirely imagined by Seihachi Sagawa and François-Paul Journe, each element having been meticulously chosen to create a singular place reflecting its philosophy. Before crossing the threshold, one notices the original door handle manufactured in Japan and fashioned in the effigy of the rotor of the Octa calibre. The interior decoration perpetuates the long history of watchmaking. Portraits of the great master watchmakers of the 17th and 18th centuries take pride of place in small alcoves, while workbenches, "Quinquet" lamps, lathes and other antique tools elegantly decorate the different areas, not forgetting the library, rich in works on the art and measurement of time. And, for the first time in the world in a watchmaking boutique, there's a bar where collectors and enthusiasts can meet “as if at home” for a coffee and a chat about their passion and favourite subject. To complete the décor, the walls are adorned with large monochrome frescoes showing watchmakers at work, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the world of the Manufacture.
The Tokyo Boutique was an important milestone in the brand's history and the starting point for its worldwide expansion. Today, 12 F.P.Journe Boutiques and Maisons welcome our collectors, from Hong Kong to Geneva, from Paris to New York. To thank the customers of its Boutiques, François-Paul Journe decided to create the Tokyo Boutique Anniversaire Series in their honour. The first edition, produced in 2005, was an exclusive version of the Chronomètre Souverain (20 pieces), with a polished Titanium case, an 18K 6N Gold crown and a ruthenium dial. This was followed by the Chronomètre à Résonance in 2006 (12 pieces), the Tourbillon Souverain in 2007 (20 pieces), the Octa Perpétuelle in 2009 (99 pieces) and, finally, the Centigraphe Souverain in 2016 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of each of its Boutiques (80 pieces in all), each piece being numbered and engraved with the name of the corresponding city.
To celebrate twenty years of presence in Japan, an event was organised in the Tokyo Boutique, bringing together a community of enthusiasts and collectors from the four corners of the globe. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the commemorative piece: the Chronographe FB. This latest iteration takes up the aesthetic codes of the previous versions: 40 mm polished Titanium case, 18K 6N Gold crown and pushers, ruthenium-coated guilloché Silver dial, sapphire counters, complemented by a burgundy alligator leather strap mounted on an 18K 6N Gold folding clasp.
The new Calibre 1518.2 features a "fly-back" function that allows the wearer to reset and restart the chronograph instantly by simply pressing the pusher at 4h, thus enabling successive measurements to be taken. The tachymeter scale indicates the speed for a distance based on 1000m using the chronograph seconds hand, which makes one complete revolution in 2 minutes. The minute counter at 3h rotates in 60 minutes, with each jump of the hand equalling 2 minutes. At 9h is the movement's second hand counter. Subtly integrated into the ruthenium dial, the very large date is positioned at 6h.
The Chronographe FB, produced at 200 pieces, will be the brand's last Limited Series.
