THE DIFFICULTY LAY IN INTEGRATING IT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE GEAR-TRAIN AND THE ESCAPEMENT, GIVEN ITS STABILITY: 1 METRE AND 1 MILLIMETRE THICK. THIS CHALLENGE WAS A POWERFUL SOURCE OF MOTIVATION! I THEN IMAGINED THAT THE BEST AND THE MOST OBVIOUS MEANS OF EXTENDING THE RUNNING DURATION WOULD BE TO EXTEND THE CAPACITY OF THE SPRING DEVELOPMENT. IT IS THEREFORE NOT UNUSUAL TO FIND THAT SOME WATCHES ABLE TO RUN FOR SEVERAL DAYS DISPLAY AN EXTREMELY UNPREDICTABLE LEVEL OF PRECISION. TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS, THEY FITTED A SMALLER BALANCE USING LESS ENERGY, BUT WHICH WAS ALSO LESS STABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, ACTUALLY USING THIS SYSTEM, EVEN WITH A STRONGER SPRING, LED THEM TO OBSERVE THAT THE LEVEL OF ENERGY ACTUALLY REACHING THE BALANCE REMAINED LOW. WATCHMAKERS THEREFORE DISCOVERED THE TRICK OF ADDING AN EXTRA WHEEL TO THE CUSTOMARY GEARTRAIN IN ORDER TO EXTEND THE DURATION OF ITS DEVELOPMENT. GIVEN THE SMALL VOLUME OF A WRISTWATCH, THE SIZE OF THE MAINSPRING WAS AUTOMATICALLY LIMITED. NUMEROUS SYSTEMS WERE INVENTED TO INCREASE THE OPERATING DURATION OF TIMEKEEPING DEVICES, MEETING WITH VARIOUS DEGREES OF SUCCESS. ONE CAN INDEED NOTE THE FACT THAT IF CHURCH CLOCKS ARE PLACED SO HIGH, IN ADDITION TO ENHANCING VISIBILITY, IT WAS MOSTLY BECAUSE IT OFTEN TOOK AN ENTIRE MONTH FOR THE DRIVING-WEIGHTS TO DROP THE LENGTH OF THEIR CORDS. “THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OCTA CALIBRE HAS LESS POWERFUL TIES WITH HOROLOGICAL HISTORY THAN DO THE CONSTANT-FORCE DEVICE OR RESONANCE MODELS, BUT IT SYMBOLISES AN HOROLOGICAL IDEAL OF GIVING TIMEKEEPERS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE DEGREE OF PRECISION AND AUTONOMY! The new calibre retains the characteristics of the classic Octa with: a five-day power reserve (120h) and a variable inertia balance wheel for an optimum yield that offers each model of the Octa line an irreproachable stability.Īlso in accordance to his clients’ observations, François-Paul Journe takes advantage of this new calibre to offer two new models with central hands : «Some of our clients told me they had difficulty reading the time on the classical Octa dial, so I took advantage of the new calibre’s creation to build the Octa Automatic Reserve and the Octa Automatic Lune whose dials are inspired by that of the Chonomètre Souverain - watch that won the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix in 2005 in the Men’s Watch category». In this way, every infinitesimal movement is maximally exploited for an optimized winding of the watch. When the user is immobile, the rotor goes back to its original position. The ceramic balls allow the rotor to move in one direction and block it in the other. With talent, the watchmaker turns the problem around, and creates a new rotor that winds in only one direction with a ball bearing system, contrary to the first Octa calibre. It is from this observation that he created the new Octa calibre (1300.3) that uses the slightest movement to automatically wind the watch. The Octa line was born.Īlways taking into account the notes and observations concerning his products, François-Paul Journe states: «I realized that one of my friend’s Octa was never completely wound because he works on a computer and his right hand doesn’t move enough.» But, his real challenge was to provide an elegant, innovative line developed on a calibre offering chronometry and unrelenting stability with an automatic movement on a variable inertia balance wheel. In his testimony on the creation of his first calibre with automatic movement signed F.P.Journe -Invenit et Fecit-, François-Paul Journe explains his philosophy, focusing on the difficulty in creating a global collection with exactly the same size case regardless of the complication. The Octa collection is available in a variety of complications such as a chronograph, an annual calendar or a moon phases, thus satisfying a variety of clients’ needs. The Octa collection satisfies a clientele looking for authentic, rare and innovative horology in an "easy to wear" mechanical wristwatch. In 2001, when the creative watchmaker presented the Octa line - a collection of mechanical wristwatch chronometers with automatic winding systems offering a 120-hour power reserve, all of which have the same case size regardless of the complication - the success is immediate! This is the case with the conception of this new calibre which offers an automatic winding system in adequacy with the less mobile users. In his approach as an innovative and creative watchmaker, François-Paul Journe does not hesitate in constantly improving his creations. A constant search for functionality produces the new Octa 1300.3 calibre.
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