- Movement
- Self-winding
- Size
- 38 or 40 mm
Overview
The moon on the Octa calibre
The F.P. Journe Octa Lune, reference L, in 18K 6N gold on the 6N gold bracelet, with an 18K 6N gold dial, whitened guilloché silver sub-dials and blued steel hands. Self-winding calibre 1300 with off-centre hours and minutes, large date, power reserve at 7:30 and moon phase; 10.6 mm high.
The Octa Lune is the moon-phase watch of F.P. Journe's Octa line of automatics, and the brand gives its production as 2004 to 2015. The moon and stars are 18-carat gold on a blue ground, chosen to sit with the blued hands. The power reserve is on the left and the large date at 12 o'clock, while the hours, minutes and seconds are read on guilloché silver sub-dials fixed to the gold dial by steel rings.
Journe's account of the Octa calibre starts from a weakness of long-running watches. Adding a wheel to the train stretches the running time but leaves little energy at the balance, so makers fitted smaller balances that were less stable. He extended the development of the mainspring instead, laying it on the same level as the gear train and escapement. Its low torque lets the rotor wind it quickly: by his figure, one and a half hours on a Chappuis cyclotest gives over 5 days' running. He then set out to fit each Octa complication into the same movement without changing its size.
For collectors
The amplitude figures show what the long spring does. F.P. Journe gives 280° dial-up at the start of the reserve and still 220° after 120 hours, five days on, and specifies the full reserve at 160 ± 12 hours, so the watch is rated to run well past the point at which that second figure is taken.
Key details
Design and engineering
- One long mainspringRather than an extra wheel in the train, the Octa lengthens the spring's development. The low torque that results is what makes the fast automatic winding possible without starving the balance of energy.
- Slipping mainspringAt full wind the spring slips in its barrel, so the rotor cannot overwind it. The off-centre rotor winds in both directions.
- Free-sprung balanceThere is no regulator index. The rate is set by four inertia weights on the balance, with a flat microflamed Anachron spring, a Nivatronic collet laser-welded to it, a mobile stud holder and a pinned stud. In-line lever escapement with a 15-tooth wheel.
- Three-position crownIn position 2 the crown sets the date turned one way and the moon turned the other; position 3 sets the time. The date changes instantaneously.
- DialOff-centre hours and minutes, small seconds at 4:30, large date, reserve at 7:30 and moon phase. White gold or 18K 6N gold dial with whitened guilloché silver sub-dials and blued steel hands.
Calibre 1300
- Automatic winding, bi-directional, off-centre rotor
- 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), 30 jewels
- Power reserve 160 ± 12 hours
- Amplitude dial-up 280° at 0 hours, 220° at 120 hours
- 30.80 mm overall diameter, 5.70 mm high, 223 parts
- Circular stripes on the bridges, base plate partly circular-grained, steelwork with polished chamfers
The reference
Technical specifications
| Reference | L |
|---|---|
| Collection | Octa |
| Calibre | Calibre 1300 |
| Movement | Self-winding |
| Functions | Off centre hours and minutes, Small seconds at 4:30, Large date, Power reserve indicator at 7:30, Moon phase |
| Case dimensions | 38 or 40 mm |
| Case thickness | 10.6 mm |
| Case material | 18K 6N Gold |
| Dial | 18K 6N Gold and whitened guilloché Silver |
| Hands | blued Steel |
| Bracelet | 18K 6N Gold |
| Jewels | 30 |
| Power reserve | 160 +/- 12 hours |
| Frequency | 21600 VPH, 3 Hz |
| Status | No longer in the current collection |
Buying with HYPA
Purchase with confidence
- Warranty card status disclosed for every piece we sell
- Free insured delivery within Australia · international quoted
- Payment by bank transfer
- Registered Australian dealerHYPA International Pty Ltd · Registered Victorian second-hand dealer, Registration No. SHD-0018017.
- Direct specialist supportSpeak with the HYPA team before, during and after the purchase.
- Rated 5.0 on Google · 6 reviewsFrom clients of HYPA International on Google. Read the reviews
Continue browsing
