F.P.Journe - Chronomètre à Résonance 2020

F.P.Journe Chronometre a Resonance. Specs, price and video. 20 years after the launch of the first Chronomètre à Résonance, F.P.Journe presented today the revamping of this model, one of the most emblematic creations of the French maestro. The Chronomètre à Résonance by F.P.Journe has prices of Swiss Francs 109,500 in gold and Swiss Francs 113,500 in platinum (prices include Swiss VAT).

20 years after the launch of the Chronomètre à Résonance, F.P.Journe presented today the revamping of this model, one of the most emblematic creations of the French maestro.

Old (on the left) and new Chronomètre à Résonance

The F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Résonance utilizes the physical natural resonance, without any mechanical transmission phenomenon, to improve accuracy, precision and rate stability of a timepiece.

It features two balances, with each one alternately serving as exciter and resonator. When the two balances are in movement, they enter into harmony thanks to the resonance phenomenon and begin to beat naturally in opposition. The two balances then support each other, giving more inertia to their movement. This result is possible only if the difference of the frequency from one to the other does not exceed 5 seconds per day cumulated on six positions. Their setting is an extremely delicate task.

Whereas an external disturbance affects the running of a traditional mechanical watch, the same disturbance, for the Chronomètre à Résonance, produces an effect that accelerates one of the balances as much as it slows down the other. Little by little, the two balances come back towards each other to find their point of harmony, thus eliminating the disturbance, and beating in perfect synchronization.

The new Chronomètre à Résonance has only one single barrel spring to provide power for the two movements. A differential placed on the first wheel, visible in the centre of the dial, transmits, independently, the energy of the barrel spring towards the two secondary gear trains. Each secondary gear train is equipped with a Remontoir d’Egalité of a frequency of 1 second. Working in such a way, the force received by the escapements remains linear and assures isochronism throughout 28 hours.

The new Chronomètre à Résonance features a redesigned case with a crown now placed at 2 o’clock easing the winding of the watch in position 0 and the time setting in position 2, clockwise for the left dial and anti-clockwise for the right dial. The pulling of the crown at 4 o’clock simultaneously resets both seconds.

On the movement side, 2 remontoirs d’égalité (constant-force device) provide a linear force to each of the two balance springs to remain isochronous during 28 hours. Beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), the movement has a total autonomy of 42 hours.

This model is available with a case in platinum or in 6N gold in 40 or 42 mm diameter. The dial is proposed in white or 6N gold with 2 hour subdials in whitened silver guilloché Clous de Paris.

Matched to an alligator leather strap, the Chronomètre à Résonance by F.P.Journe has prices of Swiss Francs 101,400 in gold and Swiss Francs 105,000 in platinum (prices before local taxes).  Make sure to watch the video at the end of the article for more technical insights. fpjourne.com