Guide to F.P. Journe Limited Edition Watches

Powerfunk Friday, November 15th, 2024 4 min. read
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François-Paul Journe is one of the most successful and influential living watchmakers, and as of 2024, his brand F.P. Journe holds the title of “most expensive watch sold at auction made by an independent brand” thanks to an early model selling for over $8 million. That F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Souscription watch was #2 of a limited edition of 20–and Mr. Journe will never sell #1. Although few watches are likely to come near that sale price, there are a variety of limited edition F.P. Journe watches that collectors go wild for. And, given that the brand officially announced that they won’t make any more Limited Series watches, we thought it would be a good time to go over all of the F.P. Journe limited edition and unique pieces from over the years.

Chronometre a Resonance Ruthenium, Chronometre Bleu Byblos, and Chronographe FB
Chronometre a Resonance Ruthenium, Chronometre Bleu Byblos, and Chronographe FB. Image: F.P. Journe

Even though Chanel now owns 20% of the company, F.P. Journe is widely regarded as the very model of high-end independent watchmaking. They deserve a lot of credit for the current high-end independent watchmaking boom in general. Brands like Gerald Genta, Daniel Roth and Franck Muller set the watchmaking stage in the 1990’s and F.P. Journe, founded in 1999, took it to the next level with their emphasis on beautifully finished in-house movements and thoughtful dials. The only other eponymous luxury watch brand of a living founder with equal success is Richard Mille.

FP Journe limited edition watches
Tourbillon Souverain Coeur de Rubis, Vagabondage I 6N Gold, and Chronometre Souverain Dubai Edition. Image: F.P. Journe

F.P. Journe limited edition watches are often some of the most desirable, but we should note that all Journes are scarce and desirable (and resell comfortably above MSRP). The brand only makes about 1,500 watches per year (1/3 of which have quartz movements), so fretting about what exactly is a “limited edition” F.P. Journe is a bit pedantic. But let’s do it anyway!

What is a Limited Edition?

To a watch collector, a proper “limited edition” has a specific finite known total produced. So, even if a watch’s production is extremely limited, generally watch nerds won’t use the term “limited” unless there’s a manufacturer-stated quantity limit. As in “one of five,” or “one of 20” etc. And it should be noted that although F.P. Journe used the term “Limited Series” for some of its watches, that doesn’t include everything that we think of as “limited editions” in the broader sense. So even though F.P. Journe has declared that there will be no more Limited Series, we expect them to continue making unique pieces for charity events, etc.

The Tokyo Anniversaire series includes 6 limited FP Journe watches in all
Four of the six watches made as part of the Tokyo Anniversaire Limited Series. Image: F.P. Journe

F.P. Journe limited edition watches are obviously very special, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more special than other models that aren’t “limited” in the traditional sense. There are brown “Havana” dials and mother-of-pearl dials only available at boutiques, for instance. Black Label models, featuring rich black dials, are especially exclusive because they’re only offered to repeat boutique customers–but they’re not “limited” per se. Jade dials are even rarer. Same goes for the incredible Astronomic model–it’s so complex that F.P. Journe can only produce a few each year. And most collectors agree that an Astronomic–let alone a Black Label Astronomic–is more special than most actual “limited edition” Journes. Before we list over 80 of those limited/unique Journe models, let’s go over a general breakdown of how the numbers stack up.

Breakdown of F.P. Journe Unique and Limited Edition Watches

Roughly half of all F.P. Journe limited/unique editions are 40mm wide, and more than half are platinum. The first series of watches F.P. Journe ever sold when the brand came on the scene in 1999, the Tourbillon Souverain Souscription, was limited to 20 pieces. But the first actual so-called “Limited Series” was the Ruthenium Series, which debuted in 2001. Here are some of the main categories that limited edition Journe watches fall into:

  • Vagabondage Series – 10 models (2 of which are Red Ferrari versions made in collaboration with Jean Todt)
  • Tokyo Boutique Anniversary Series – 6 models
  • Commemorative 38mm platinum “No. 1000” unique pieces (sold as a set by Cellini) – 6 models
  • Ruthenium Series (F.P. Journe’s first true series of limited edition watches) – 5 models
  • Commemorative 38mm steel unique pieces (sold as a set to signify the end of the 38mm era) – 5 models
  • Unique pieces for Only Watch charity – 5 models
  • Unique pieces for Action Innocence charity (purple dials) – 4 models
  • Unique pieces paying homage to New York City after 9/11 (according to A Collected Man) – 3 models
  • Unique pieces for Fondation Prince Albert II of Monaco charity (with Oracle bone script hour markers) – 3 models

That barely covers half of the limited and unique F.P. Journe watches that we’re aware of, though. See our chart below for a thorough model-by-model list.

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Chronometre Bleu Byblos, a very hard-to-find FP Journe limited edition
This collector was offered over 7x what he paid for this Chronometre Bleu Byblos, and he declined, “because I can’t get another one.”

Chart of F.P. Journe Unique and Limited Edition Watches

Model NameDial ColorDebut YearLimited ToNoteCase WidthCase Material
Tourbillon Souverain SouscriptionYellow Gold199920 piecesFirst series of F.P. Journe’s tourbillon wristwatches38mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain LabyrintheRose Gold Labyrinthe pattern200010 piecesRare early model with engraved “Labyrinth” dial pattern40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain RutheniumRuthenium200199 piecesFirst model with a ruthenium dial40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain New York SkylineRose Gold2002Piece Unique (presumed)One of three distinct New York-themed watches created in the wake of 9/11, believed to be a unique piece, engraved Statue of Liberty on dial38mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain N°1000Yellow Gold2004Piece Unique (presumed)Released as part of the six-watch “N°1000” set supposedly for Cellini in 200438mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain Anniversaire TokyoRuthenium with gold accents200720 piecesMarks the 3rd anniversary of Journe’s first boutique (Tokyo)40mmTitanium
Tourbillon Souverain Orologeria Pisa EditionSilver/Ruthenium20085 piecesMade for Orologeria Pisa, a well-known jeweler in Milan40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain Beijing EditionRed20105 piecesCelebrates the opening of F.P. Journe’s Beijing boutique40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain 10 Year Boutique AnniversaryBlack/Grained Silver201310 piecesFor the 10th anniversary of the brand’s first boutique (Tokyo), and the opening of the 10th boutique total (Beirut)40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain 30 Year Career AnniversaryGrained Silver (almost white)201399 piecesCelebrates 30 years of F.P. Journe’s career, featuring guilloched silver lugs and caseback with a rose gold midcase/bezel40mmSilver/Rose Gold
Tourbillon Souverain 38mm SteelTan201538 piecesOne of five watches that came as part of the “38mm Steel Set” which were to be the final 38mm FPJ watches38mmStainless Steel
Tourbillon Souverain Régence CirculaireSilver Régence Circulaire pattern201620 piecesEngraved “Regency Circulaire” dial pattern is an ode to the earlier “Labyrinth”40mmRose Gold
Tourbillon Souverain Cœur de RubisRuby201920 piecesTwo 0.45mm-thick pieces of actual ruby are laid on a silver surface to form the dial40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain “Action Innocence”Purple2015Piece UniqueBenefiting Action Innocence, a charity aiming to protect children from online harms40mmPlatinum
Tourbillon Souverain Bleu Only WatchBlue Chrome2015Piece UniqueAuctioned at Only Watch 2015, with a dial several layers of hand-applied blue lacquer40mmTantalum
Astronomic Only Watch 2019Blue Chrome/Guilloché Silver2019Piece UniqueVery complex (18 functions), sold for $1.8 million at Only Watch 201944mmTantalum
Automatique 20th AnniversaryYellow Gold/Guilloché Silver202199 piecesCelebrates 20th anniversary of the Octa caliber40mmPlatinum
Automatique Action Innocence 2023Purple2023Piece UniqueFor Action Innocence charity auction40mmPlatinum
Centigraphe “Ferrari Red”Red with Ferrari logo20083 piecesMade in collaboration with Jean Todt/Ferrari40mmPlatinum
Centigraphe Souverain AnniversaireRuthenium with gold accents201680 piecesMarks the 10th anniversary of various FPJ boutiques beginning in 2016 (20 were made for the HK boutique and 10 each for seven others)40mmTitanium
Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante Bleu Only Watch 2017Blue2017Piece UniqueRaised over $1.1 million at Only Watch 201744mmTantalum
Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante “Prince Albert II”Royal Blue2018Piece UniqueMade for the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, hour numerals in Oracle Bone script44mmCoated Titanium
Chronographe FBGuilloché Ruthenium with gold accents2024200 piecesCelebrates the Tokyo boutique’s 20 anniversary, fifth watch of the Tokyo Boutique Anniversarie Series and Journe’s final “limited edition” timepiece40mmTitanium
Chronomètre à Resonance N°1000Tan2004Piece Unique (presumed)Released as part of the six-watch “N°1000” set supposedly for Cellini in 200438mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance Anniversaire TokyoRuthenium with gold accents200612 piecesMarks the 2nd anniversary of Journe’s first boutique (Tokyo)40mmTitanium
Chronomètre à Résonance RutheniumRuthenium200199 piecesFirst limited edition of the Résonance model38mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance Regency (WG)White Gold engraved “Regency” pattern~2001Piece Unique (presumed)The first of a set of three Regency Résonance models from the early 2000’s, with a distinctive hand-engraved pattern38mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance Regency (YG)Yellow Gold engraved “Regency” pattern~2001Piece Unique (presumed)Slightly better engraving quality than the white gold version38mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance Regency (RG)Rose Gold engraved “Regency” pattern~2001Piece Unique (presumed)Even better engraving quality than the yellow gold version38mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance New York SkylineWhite Gold2002Piece Unique (presumed)One of three distinct New York-themed watches created in the wake of 9/11, believed to be a unique piece, engraved Chrysler Building and Brooklyn Bridge on dial38mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance Orologeria PisaSilver/Ruthenium20085 piecesMade for Orologeria Pisa, a well-known jeweler in Milan40mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance 38mm SteelTan201538 piecesOne of five watches that came as part of the “38mm Steel Set” which were to be the final 38mm FPJ watches38mmStainless Steel
Chronomètre à Résonance 20th AnniversaryTwo-tone201920 piecesMarks 20 years of the Résonance40mmPlatinum
Chronomètre à Résonance “Prince Albert II”Fuchsia/Ruthenium2024Piece UniqueMade for the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, hour numerals in Oracle Bone script40mmPlatinum
Chronomètre Souverain Anniversaire TokyoRuthenium with gold accents200520 piecesMarks the 1st anniversary of Journe’s first boutique (Tokyo)40mmTitanium
Chronomètre Souverain de BoulleRuthenium/Guilloché White20072008Made for de Boulle, a jeweler in Dallas, TX40mmPlatinum
Chronomètre Bleu ByblosBlue with cut-out dial201420 pieces in Eastern Arabic, 79 in Western ArabicCelebrating the opening of the Beirut boutique39mmTantalum
Chronomètre Furtif Bleu Only Watch 2024Translucent Blue Grand Feu Enamel2024Piece UniqueFor Only Watch 2024 with new Calibre 152240mmTantalum
Chronomètre Holland & HollandBrown (Damascus Steel)201766 piecesDial made from Damascus steel barrels39mmStainless Steel
Chronomètre Souverain 38mm SteelWhite/Guilloché Tan201538 piecesOne of five watches that came as part of the “38mm Steel Set” which were to be the final 38mm FPJ watches38mmStainless Steel
Chronomètre Souverain “Dubai Edition”Green202099 piecesReleased for Dubai Watch Week 202040mmPlatinum
Chronomètre Souverain Swiss FineTimingBlack/Silver with red accents20077 piecesPart of a two-piece set for Swiss FineTiming retailer along with an Octa Chronographe40mmPlatinum
Chronomètre Optimum Action Innocence 2017Purple2017Piece UniqueFor Action Innocence charity auction40mmPlatinum
Chronomètre Optimum “Prince Albert II”Fuchsia/Ruthenium2022Piece UniqueMade for the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, hour numerals in Oracle Bone script40mmPlatinum
Élégante 40mm “Action Innocence”Purple2015Piece UniqueFor Action Innocence charity auction35mmTitanium
Élégante 48mm Titalyt BCRF 2024White/grey/black2024Piece UniqueBenefiting breast cancer research, featuring pink numeral at 1 o’clock and pink strap40mmCoated Titanium
Élégante 48mm Titalyt MAMCOLuminescent Grey2024Piece UniqueProceeds benefit the restoration of MAMCO Geneva (Musée d’art moderne et contemporain)40mmCoated Titanium
Élégante 48mm Titalyt “Le Restaurant”Burgundy2024Restaurant employees/patrons onlyDial and strap are the color of red wine, appropriate for Journe’s restaurant40mmCoated Titanium
FFC Blue Only Watch 2021Skeletonized Rose Gold with blue automaton hand2021Piece UniqueCollaboration with Francis Ford Coppola for Only Watch 2021, with the fingers of an automaton hand indicating hours42mmTantalum
FFCSkeletonized Black with silver automaton hand202312 piecesA black/silver/rose gold colorway of the FFC42mmPlatinum
Octa Automatique 38mm SteelTan201538 piecesOne of five watches that came as part of the “38mm Steel Set” which were to be the final 38mm FPJ watches38mmStainless Steel
Octa Automatique Lune France-China 50Greyish Blue2015~28 piecesCommemorates 50 years of France-China relations40mmPlatinum
Octa Calendrier RutheniumRuthenium200399 piecesPart of the ruthenium dial series40mmPlatinum
Octa Calendrier N°1000Tan2004Piece Unique (presumed)Released as part of the six-watch “N°1000” set supposedly for Cellini in 200438mmPlatinum
Octa Calendrier Sincere Fine Watches EditionBlack mother-of-pearl200615 piecesSpecial edition for Sincere Fine Watches38mmPlatinum
Octa Calendrier 38mm SteelTan201538 piecesOne of five watches that came as part of the “38mm Steel Set” which were to be the final 38mm FPJ watches38mmStainless Steel
Octa Chronographe RutheniumRuthenium and Guilloché Silver200299 piecesPart of the ruthenium dial series40mmPlatinum
Octa Chronographe N°1000Tan2004Piece Unique (presumed)Released as part of the six-watch “N°1000” set supposedly for Cellini in 200438mmPlatinum
Octa Chronographe Swiss FineTimingBlack/Silver with red accents20077 piecesPart of a two-piece set for Swiss FineTiming retailer along with a Chronomètre Souverain40mmPlatinum
Octa Jour/Nuit RutheniumRuthenium200299 piecesPart of the ruthenium dial series, featuring a day/night indicator40mmPlatinum
Octa Lune N°1000Tan2004Piece Unique (presumed)Released as part of the six-watch “N°1000” set supposedly for Cellini in 200438mmPlatinum
Octa Lune Mannekin PisSilver with urinating statue motif202410 pieces“Mannekin Pis” means what it sounds like40mmPlatinum
Octa Perpétuelle Anniversaire TokyoRuthenium with gold accents200999 piecesMarks the 5th anniversary of Journe’s first boutique (Tokyo)40mmTitanium
Octa Réserve de Marche New York SkylineYellow Gold2002Piece Unique (presumed)One of three distinct New York-themed watches created in the wake of 9/11, believed to be a unique piece, engraved NYC skyline on dial38mmPlatinum
Octa Réserve de Marche N°1000Tan2004Piece Unique (presumed)Released as part of the six-watch “N°1000” set supposedly for Cellini in 200438mmPlatinum
Octa Réserve de Marche Régence CirculaireRose Gold engraved “Regency” pattern20154 piecesSupposedly released to use up a set of four NOS Regency dials, more “round” engraving pattern than other Regency models40mmPlatinum
Octa Sport Indy 500Black201299 piecesCommemorates the Indianapolis 500 race42mmBlackened Aluminum
Octa Sport ARS2 (Blue)Blue20188 piecesCeramic bezel, only weighs about 70 grams total44mmTitanium
Octa UTC (Platinum)Greyish Blue/Guilloché Silver202310 piecesExclusive to F.P.Journe Boutiques, limited to 10 pieces per metal40mmPlatinum
Octa UTC (Rose Gold)Greyish Blue/Guilloché Silver202310 piecesExclusive to F.P.Journe Boutiques, limited to 10 pieces per metal40mmRose Gold
Octa ZodiaqueSlate/White2004150 piecesAnnular ring shows current Zodiac sign and approximate date40mmPlatinum
Octa Zodiaque “Children Action”Tan/White2005Piece UniqueUnique piece, raised $813,000 for Children Action charity40mmRose Gold
Sonnerie Souverain (Brass Movement)Yellow Gold2004Piece UniqueThe only Grande et Petite Sonnerie that Journe ever made with a brass movement40mmPlatinum
Sonnerie Souverain Constructors’ ChampionshipSky Blue2009Piece UniqueBeautiful shimmery light blue dial, made for Jean Todt to celebrate Formula 1’s 7th Constructors’ Championship40mmStainless Steel
Vagabondage IWhite/Black200469 piecesFirst in the Vagabondage series, with a unique minute hand encircling the current hour digit on an inner rotating/jumping disc37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage I (Diamond-set)Silver/Black200410 piecesCase is set with baguette diamonds37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage I “Michael Schumacher”Red2004Piece UniqueMade just for Michael Schumacher, with a Ferrari logo and 7 “V” hour markers for his 7 championships37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage II (Rose Gold)Smoked Sapphire/Silver201068 piecesDigital hours and minutes (traditional seconds subdial)37.5mmRose Gold
Vagabondage II (Platinum)Smoked Sapphire/Silver201069 piecesDigital hours and minutes (traditional seconds subdial)37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage II (Diamond-set)Smoked Sapphire/Silver201010 piecesCase is set with baguette diamonds37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage III (Rose Gold)Smoked Sapphire/Silver201768 piecesDigital hours and seconds display (traditional minutes)37.5mmRose Gold
Vagabondage III (Platinum)Smoked Sapphire/Silver201769 piecesDigital hours and seconds display (traditional minutes)37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage III (Diamond-set)Smoked Sapphire/Rose Gold/Silver201710 piecesCase is set with baguette diamonds37.5mmPlatinum
Vagabondage I 6N GoldSmoked Sapphire202268 piecesRose gold variant of the first Vagabondage, representing the final chapter of the Vagabondage saga37.5mmRose Gold
4 FP Journe limited edition watches
The black FFC model (right) is limited to just 10 pieces. Image: F.P. Journe

That just about covers all of the unique and limited edition F.P. Journe models we can think of. While it was fun to go through all of these various rare models, deciding on which Journe watch you want probably shouldn’t come down to whether it’s a “limited edition” or not. After all, they’re all rare, and they’re all pretty fantastic.

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