No one will fault you for wearing a Rolex or Omega around here. But if you want something truly special — something from a small batch made by hand each year — you’re going to have to look elsewhere. 

You’re going to have to look at F.P. Journe.

Journe is one of the world’s foremost living watchmakers, having begun his studies at the age of 15. At the age of 19, he received his watchmaking diploma at the École d'Horlogerie in Paris. His namesake timepieces are complicated works of horological art, the result of in-house ideation, design, and construction. In short: Journe is a master craftsman of the highest order, and his creations are some of the most desirable timepieces on Earth.

This particular Journe, however, is extraordinary even by this remarkable watchmaker’s standards: A member of the Élégante collection — a dedicated line of ladies’ watches — it contains an innovative, electro-mechanical movement that allows it to conserve energy. After the watch is idle for 35 minutes, it goes into a standby mode, during which its microprocessor continues to keep time, but the hands stop moving. Once the Élégante is picked up, the hands move to the proper place and continue keeping time. With this system, the watch has an effective power reserve of eight to 10 years in use, and 18 years in standby mode. Incredible!

This Élégante dates to the 2020s. Housed in a 35mm Titanium Flat Tortue case with white cloisonné inserts, a stylized crown, and a sapphire crystal, it features a luminescent white central dial encased within an outer steel housing secured by four screws. The dial, with its blued ‘Arabic’ indices, stylized blue handset, outer ‘railroad’ minute track, sub-seconds counter above 6 o’clock, and exposed balance makes for an avant-garde melding of classical and contemporary design elements.

Powered by the Calibre 1210 electro-mechanical movement with quartz crystal, dual rotors, and dedicated processor, this impressive feat of mechanical and industrial engineering comes paired to a comfortable rubber strap with deployant buckle.

While many — indeed, most! — brands merely gloss over the entire category of ladies’ watches, F.P. Journe has given careful consideration to female collectors by designing a forward-thinking, ultra-elegant, contemporary wristwatch. 

Bravo, Monsieur Journe.