A Worldly Addition

2 minutes read
A world time function is not fully useful if the difference between summer and winter time is not considered. Award “collector” François-Paul Journe solves the problem.


WORLDTEMPUS - 21 January 2011

Miguel Seabra


During the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, François-Paul Journe usually opens his manufacture located in the heart of Geneva to clients and friends of the brand. This year, the French watchmaker unveiled an interesting addition to his exceptional F.P. Journe collection: the Octa UTC (Universal Time Coordinates).

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Regarded as one of the most talented watchmakers of the last 50 years – if not the best, considering his seven awards at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève in the past eight years – Journe has a huge reputation to protect. Therefore , his first foray into the world timer complication had to be innovative. Doing just that, this week he introduced a patented system on his Octa UTC; this timepiece mechanically indicates the different time zones linked with the earth's geographical positions, including the difference between summer and winter time. This is a most useful – particularly for those located in Europe's winter who may wish to follow tennis's Australian Open, taking place now right in the middle of the Australian summer.


Chromatic Contrast

The Octa UTC is presented within a typical Octa dial arrangement that includes a colorful presentation of the globe, which provides a stunning chromatic contrast to the greyish dial and the platinum or red gold case. The main hours are indicated by the blue hands and linked to the calendar indicating the main geographical time; the little rose gold hand in the background of the same subdial indicates a second 24-hour time zone.

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The main time is set by pushing a small, secured, integrated pusher at 4 o'clock. In crown position 2, the wearer sets the second geographical region to 0 for winter time – and the gold hand automatically and simultaneously adjusts to the corresponding time. The +1 / -1 scale's purpose is to aid in properly positioning summer time linked to the geographical location of the user, depending on whether it's positioned east or west of the chosen zone.

Collecting Awards


The Octa UTC is available in platinum or red gold cases in two diameter sizes (38 and 40 mm; 10.6 mm in height). The plates and bridges of the movement – automatic Caliber FPJ 1300-3 – are crafted in 18-karat rose gold, and automatic winding is provided by an off-center 22-karat gold winding rotor. The numerals related to the second time zone display are also gold. “The gold numerals are a first,” Journe reports.

Will the new Octa UTC also receive a prestigious award, as many of Journe's other masterful timepieces like the Sonnerie Souveraine, the minute repeater, the Centigraphe and the Chronomètre à Résonance, have? The Marseille-born master watchmaker does not shy away from discussing his impressive collection of awards: “A collector is someone who buys items; in that sense I'm not a collector of awards because I don't have to buy any prizes. The awards are not important – if the jury is smart and the watches are good, we win an award; if the clients are smart and the watches are good, the watches are sold.”

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