The Perpetual Calendar is by far one of the most practical complications in haute horology and a true thing of beauty to behold when executed well. The only downside of course is that there is always a risk the dial will become cluttered with all the extra indicators, thus compromising legibility and aesthetic beauty.
No such fear however with the gorgeous new Quantième Perpétuel from Francois-Paul (FP to his friends) Journe. All the brands clever ideas and trademark design traits have been united in a harmonious matrimony of function and form, resulting in a truly special timepiece.
Keep It Simple
The key here is simplicity. Not on the mechanical side of course, the FPJ Caliber 1300.3 animating the instantaneous perpetual calendar movement is after all exceptionally complex, but in the design itself. You see the Quantième Perpétuel doesn’t try to do too much but what it does do, it does exceptionally well.
On the dial we have the basic but essential calendar indications; month/day/date and leap year. The latter is possibly the most subtle of all, tucked away in the middle of the dial. All other superfluous detail has been done away with in favor of what is relevant to the wearer right now. This allows for a super-clean, well-balanced dial with oversized numerals that are extremely easy to read at a glance.
In the addition the hours and minutes are shown on the outside ring of the dial (note, no seconds hand), whilst the power-reserve display lets you keep track of how much of your 120 hours remain.
Keeping with the simplicity theme Journe have also made it incredibly easy to set and adjust all the functions, an endeavor that can become somewhat of a harrowing ordeal with perpetual calendars. A cleverly designed 3-position crown allows you to easily set the time, day and date, whilst the months are adjusted via a hidden lever beneath the 1 o’clock lug that you can just make it out in the photo below.
Presented in your choice of either a 40mm or 42mm Platinum or Rose Gold case, production numbers will be limited by virtue of Journe’s boutique watch manufacturer status. Price is expected to be CHF70,200 in Platinum and CHF65,900 in Rose gold.
The Final Word
The distinctive design of F.P. Journe timepieces don’t suit all tastes, there’s no doubt about that but what can’t be questioned is the impeccable quality of their creations. You are buying a timepiece for life here, a future heirloom to be handed down from generation to generation, a keepsake that celebrates timekeeping in its most functional form. What more could you ask for?
