- Movement
- Manual winding
- Size
- 40 mm
Overview
Two balances in step
The F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance, reference RT, in 18K 6N gold on the 6N gold bracelet, 18K 6N gold dial with whitened guilloché silver sub-dials, digital 24-hour at 9 o'clock and analogue 12-hour at 3. 40 mm and 9.1 mm high, calibre 1499.3 with two balances in resonance.
The Chronomètre à Résonance was the second model in F.P. Journe's Souveraine collection; this construction, calibre 1499.3, was produced between 2010 and 2019. Journe traces its principle to Christiaan Huygens, to the pair of precision regulators Antide Janvier built around 1780, and to the resonance regulators Breguet made thirty years later, and says he knows of no watchmaker who took it further after them. Fifteen years of his own trials brought it to the wrist. F.P. Journe describes the result as the only wristwatch using acoustic resonance.
The movement carries two escapements and two free-sprung balances side by side, with nothing mechanical between them. Janvier found that two pendulums hung from the same structure take up the energy each other dissipates and settle into a common beat; the two balances work on that principle with no mechanical transmission between them, and Journe's reason for putting it on the wrist is that a balance jolted by the wearer's movement is held to the rate of its partner. The dial has two time displays, a 24-hour dial at 9 o'clock, digital or analogue according to the version, and an analogue 12-hour dial at 3 o'clock, with two small seconds at 6.
For collectors
The two dials are not simply symmetry. With the crown in position 2, turning one way sets the left dial and turning the other sets the right, so the watch can hold two different times, and F.P. Journe describes the 12-hour dial as local time. The button at 4 o'clock returns both small seconds to zero together, after which the two hands can be seen running in step.
Key details
Design and engineering
- Coupling by resonanceTwo in-line escapements with 15-tooth escape wheels and two balances, with no mechanical transmission between them.
- Two balancesEach has four inertia weights and a flat micro-flamed Anachron spring laser-pinned to a Nivatronic collet, with mobile stud carriers and no regulator index. Amplitude is 320° dial-up at full wind and 270° after 24 hours.
- One crown, two dialsA two-position crown winds the movement and sets the left and right dials in opposite directions of rotation. Pulling the button at 4 o'clock resets both seconds.
- Displays24-hour dial on the left, 12-hour analogue dial on the right, two small seconds at 6 o'clock and the power reserve at 11.
- FinishingPartial circular graining on the base plate, polished and bevelled screw heads with chamfered slots, pegs with polished rounded ends.
Calibre 1499.3
- Manual winding, 27 turns of the crown
- 18K rose gold, 36 jewels
- Two escapements and two balances, 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz)
- Autonomy 40 ± 2 hours
- 32.60 mm overall diameter, 4.50 mm high
- 299 parts without dial, 336 cased with strap
The reference
Technical specifications
| Reference | RT |
|---|---|
| Collection | Souveraine |
| Calibre | Calibre 1499.3 |
| Movement | Manual winding |
| Movement material | 18K rose gold |
| Functions | Double display: Left dial: analog or digital according to version, indicating 24 hours, Right dial: analog, indicating 12 hours, 2 small seconds at 6h00, Power reserve at 11h00 |
| Case dimensions | 40 mm |
| Case thickness | 9.1 mm |
| Case material | 18K 6N Gold |
| Dial | 18K 6N Gold and whitened guilloché Silver, double display (digital 24 hours and analog 12 hours) |
| Hands | blued Steel |
| Bracelet | 18K 6N Gold |
| Jewels | 36 |
| Power reserve | 40 ± 2 hours |
| Frequency | 21'600 v/h (3Hz) |
| Movement parts | 299 |
| Status | No longer in the current collection |
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