F.P. Journe Elégante - Ref. ELT 40 mm Titanium

The Watch

When people say 'not all quartz watches are created equal,' they are referring to pieces like the F.P. Journe Élégante. Capable of shutting down when it doesn't detect movement for more than 30 minutes before waking and instantly moving the hands to the correct time, the Élégante is a quartz watch with a brain.

Realised in titanium and measuring 40mm in width, this Élégante is the reference ELT, dating from 2020. The case is tortue in shape and carries a polished finish throughout its curvy mid-case, bezel, and caseback, presenting the first of many juxtaposed nuances of the Élégante.

Event at a glance, it's apparent the dial of this Élégante is quintessential Journe, thanks predominantly to its numerals and hands. However, just like the movement, not everything is as expected. Starting with the periphery, the outer section of the dial is comprised of screwed-in steel sections, a design touch which draws the eye in further to the dial itself while also allowing Journe to produce a rounded dial. During the day, the dial is white; however, at night, it glows bright as it's produced entirely as a luminescent sapphire, with the classic Journe font for the Arabic numerals being lacquered. The hours and minute hands are thermally blued and presented in a classic Journe teardrop style form, whereas the sub-register at six is a needle style with an oversized pomme style counterbalance. Thrown into the mix of this very individual thinking piece are very classic tenets such as the railroad track and the sectoring of the dial. However, one final piece of the puzzle resides in the four o'clock position. This aperture houses a very small rotor, which acts as the first step in the movement's ability to reactivate upon motion detection. 

The Movement

The remarkable quartz calibre behind the Élégante is the 1210, thankfully made visible through the display caseback. Now, looking at a quartz movement is typically never that extraordinary, but remember, this is F.P. Journe. The integrated circuitry of the calibre carries a heart as a callback to the initial market the watch was designed for, which is paired with an 18k gold battery cover complete with Geneva striping.

How It Wears

At 40mm wide, you may assume this edition of the Élégante is a large piece on the wrist, yet due to its tortue case shape, the proportions appear more compact in reality. Wearing comparable to a round 36mm watch, the Élégante has prominence yet wearability in its wheelhouse. At only 7.35mm thick, with its intelligent movement and design unlike anything else, the Élégante is a one of kind. 

Condition & set

Offered as a full set dating from 2020, this Élégante ELT is in great condition, showing hairline scratches and never having been polished. Better still, the watch is sold with four rubber straps: 1x Midnight Blue Medium, 1x Midnight Blue Small, 1x Chocolate Medium, and 1x Chocolate Small. The original F.P. Journe folding clasp is also included.

Origin 

Excelling in reputation and watchmaking merits alike, François-Paul Journe's eponymous brand is simply one of the leading influential watchmakers in the independent world, and his road to success is just as fascinating as his watches. Having left school at 14, François-Paul spent a summer with his uncle, a clock restorer. After undertaking formal horological study – to which he was expelled – he united with his uncle once more at his new workshop in Paris, where an understanding and appreciation for traditional 18th-century watchmaking lore was nurtured. He also began taking commissions from clients and was eventually mentored by George Daniels. Around this time, he built his own tourbillon chronometer and a pocket watch in his free time. Other early creations from François-Paul include a planetarium mechanism for Asprey, a pocket watch with a fusée chain, a five-second remontoire, a retrograde perpetual calendar and an equation of time, as well as an early failed attempt at a resonance, something François-Paul would later master. 

In 1985, Journe started a workshop to build watches for collectors. In 1989, he opened a movement manufacturer, and in 1996, he formed TIM SA, which was dedicated to creating exclusive calibres for brands. He then launched 'F.P. Journe—Invenit et Fecit' in 1999 with the Tourbillon Souverain. While the F.P. Journe brand's savoir-faire and ability to translate tradition into contemporary watchmaking have cemented its position as a leader of independent watchmaking, its most straightforward watch remains an incredibly in-demand piece.

It may come as a surprise to learn that despite Journe's immense talents behind a watchmaker bench, in 2014, he debuted a quartz-powered watch. First conceived as a women's watch, a battery may have powered the Élégante, but it most certainly was not lacking in any soul. Taking eight years to perfect, the in-house quartz movement rather ingeniously can sense the wearer's movement, so when it is sedentary for more than 30 minutes, the watch will shut down. However, as soon as the watch is picked up and detects motion, the hands will correct themselves to the current time, and the watch is ready to be worn. Eventually, the Élégante arrived in a larger size that was more aimed at a male audience. While slow at first, collectors were convinced by the impressive technology and thorough Journe design codes. The Élégante now sits as an incredibly desirable model in the collection.

If you desire to take a closer look at this precious timepiece, don't hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. We are based in Ghent, Belgium. 

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