F.P.Journe adds the Chronomètre Furtif to its lineSport Collection

0 0 Monday, 31 March 2025 Edit this post

F.P.Journe is adding the Chronomètre Furtif to its lineSport Collection.

Following the Chronomètre Furtif Bleu created for the Only Watch charity auction, a unique timepiece that marked a first for the brand as the first to feature a Tantalum case, the new Chronomètre Furtif will be produced in a small series featuring a case and bracelet made from Tungsten Carbide (interspersed with Tantalum elements) and an anthracite grey dial.

Tungsten carbide is an exceptionally hard material (~1350 Vickers, 9 on the Mohs scale, close to sapphire), formed by combining tungsten and carbon at high temperatures. It is twice as dense as steel and nearly as dense as gold. Commonly used in technical applications, it is an ideal choice due to its biocompatibility, low chemical reactivity, and exceptional shock resistance.

For the design of each exterior element of this 42 mm timepiece, which measures just 9.5 mm in thickness, the Manufacture drew on the expertise of Les Boîtiers de Genève. Owned by F.P. Journe and integrated since 2012, this specialist entity operates from workshops in Meyrin, on the outskirts of Geneva.

Crafting the entire exterior from tungsten carbide required cutting-edge tooling, a process also applied to the bracelet, which was developed by specialists based on a design by F.P. Journe.

The mirror-polished anthracite grey Grand Feu enamel on a white gold dial was crafted by the artisans of Les Cadraniers de Genève, an F.P. Journe-owned workshop that shares its space and advanced technology with Les Boîtiers de Genève.

1. Preparation – White gold dial with a hand-finished surface before enamel application.

2. Enamelling – Successive applications and firings of vitrified enamel at high temperatures (800°C ⁄ 1472°F).

3. Polishing – Mirror-polishing for a smooth and deep surface.

4. Matte finishing – Laser-frosted numbers, logo, and track for a stealth effect.

Next, the elongated teardrop hands are attached, their tint closely matching the dial to create a seamless effect.

Finally, a long, lightweight seconds hand, tinted white for a striking contrast, is carefully set in place, forming a sharp visual focal point.

Visible through the transparent sapphire crystal case back, the hand-wound Calibre 1522 is made in 18K rose gold.

Developed in-house by F.P.Journe, it displays the hours and minutes, but also the central seconds thanks to a central seconds hand driven directly by the axis of the dedicated wheel.

Operating at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), it is enriched by two useful indicators. At 12 o’clock sits the power reserve indicator with two barrels mounted in parallel, which, once wound, provide 56 hours of operation with chronometric precision. The crown used to wind them also allows the time to be set, and, when pulled out to the second position, it also adjusts the moon phase display at 6 o’clock.