F.P. Journe Octa Calendrier Brass Mvt 2003

F.P. Journe Octa Calendrier, Pink Gold, Brass Movement, First Series 2003
Serial: 073-03Q
Circa: 2003
Reference: N/A

DIAL: Pink gold dial with tremble finishing, day & month aperture, crescent with retrograde date indication, hour, minutes guilloché dial with subsidiary seconds

CASE: 38.5mm, 18K Pink Gold, sapphire crystal and caseback

MOVEMENT: Caliber 1300, automatic, 30 jewels

BRACELET: Alligator strap, 18K yellow gold FP Journe ardillon buckle

CONDITION REPORT: Movement fully overhauled in 2024 with receipt (polishing refused). The watch is in stunning condition with some aging of the dial typical on these early brass movement examples.
The movement was fully overhauled by FP Journe in May 2024.

NOTES: Includes Octa Calendrier Instruction Manual, F.P. Journe Certificate of Authenticity, Service Invoice from 2024 and pouch.

The origins of the current 'Brass Movement' Octa Calendrier can be traced back to the early 2003, identified by its case number 073-03Q (where '03' denotes the production year, and 'Q' for quantième signifies the annual calendar complication). Launched in 2003, the Octa Calendrier saw only 11 pieces crafted in pink gold with its pink gold shimmer dial during its initial run that year, making this particular example a notably rare first edition.
The Certificate of Authenticity further attests that this watch, featuring the present pink gold dial, was delivered in 2003. Notably, the early brass movement of the timepiece boasts a 5-day power reserve, marking it as the inaugural F.P. Journe model to showcase an annual calendar function.
F.P. Journe, founded in 1999, initially produced movements made of brass during the initial five to six years of its existence. These early brass movements, characterized by low production numbers, are estimated to be around 2,000 movements from all models, contributing to their high collectibility in the present day. Subsequent movements from F.P. Journe were crafted from gold.
Originally introduced in 1999 as an automatic model with date, time, and power reserve features, the Octa case design evolved over time into eight distinct models, all while maintaining the same case structure. Among these models emerged the Octa Calendrier. The Octa Calendrier is the third complication to be integrated in the Octa automatic caliber. The integration of an annual retrograde calendar while maintaining the dimensions of the movement was another significant horological achievement. The instantaneously advancing day and month display is self-adjusting for months with 28, 30 and 31 days. The Octa annual calendar requires manual adjustment at the end of February only during the non-leap years unlike other annual calendars requiring yearly adjustment.