F.P. Journe Automatique Lune Havana

No one will fault you for wearing one of the 'Big Three' around these parts. 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. He received his watchmaking diploma at the École d'Horlogerie in Paris at the age of 19. 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.

The Automatique Lune has been in production since it debuted in 2007 and to this day remains as one of F.P. Journe’s cleanest dial silhouettes. Without straying far away from the maison's signature design cues, it uniquely displays a left-aligned power reserve indicator, ‘big date' and moonphase aperture complemented alongside a traditional numeral hour track and central handset. Vastly more legible than its Octa Lune sibling, this piece provides an opportunity to marvel at the fine finishing in each function — as well as in the 'dead space' between them — a style enthusiasts indelibly associate with the maison.

This particular example is part of the F.P. Journe's Havana collection and features a 40mm platinum case that is agreeably restrained. It sidesteps gimmicky design and construction and instead leans on the simplicity of its curved case lines and cleanly polished flanks. The crown adds an ounce of flare with its beautifully detailed, rope-like motif and in hand, there's buttery smoothness to the setting mechanism.

The dial features a rich brown tonality similar to the highly-coveted ‘tropical’ dials found on vintage timepieces exposed to the equatorial sun for most of their life. Hand-finished with granular texture, timekeeping for this piece is recorded by white printed indices, a peripheral chemin de fer minute track, and an ivory-toned handset with a running subsidiary seconds indicator with a Breguet hand positioned between 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock.

Powering this awesome display of high-end watchmaking is the automatic-winding Calibre 1300.3. Comprised of 223 individual components, it is decorated with 30 jewels, a partially circular grained baseplate, circular striping on the bridges, and hand-finished polishing and chamfering throughout. The off-centered winding rotor is expertly finiished in flawless guilloché, and is visible through a sapphire display back. It comes fitted to a signed caramel brown alligator strap with a signed platinum pin buckle.

In comparison to some of his other works, the F.P.Journe Automatique Lune is a relatively simple execution, but in our eyes it shows the brilliance of his work — doing 'busy' avant-garde designs is one thing, but with a simpler execution such as this, the details matter so much more. With the perfect combination of a platinum case and its topical-toned dial, the details are perfect inside and out -  seemingly made for lovers of vintage watches like ourselves.

Whether you find yourself underneath a palm tree sipping on a tropical drink garnished with an umbrella, or hustling about town in an office uniform — you'll have to agree that the Automatique Lune Havana combines vintage aesthetics and contemporary Independent watchmaking spirit to perfection.

François-Paul Journe is one of the most well respected independent watchmakers in the world. A three-time winner of the Aiguille d’Or grand prize from the Fondation du Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, he is a watchmaker’s watchmaker, focusing on complicated pieces made in-house to the tune of roughly 800 watches per year.

Born in Marseille in 1957, Journe began his watchmaking education at just 15 years old, receiving his watchmaking diploma at the École d'Horlogerie in Paris in 1976. He opened a studio in Saint-Germain-des-Prés in 1985, and subsequently relocated to the Swiss Jura in 1989, where he began work on his first tourbillon wristwatch. Ten years later, he established his eponymous firm in Geneva.

F.P. Journe builds precision chronometers outfitted with cases from its own case maker, and dials from its own dial maker. Each timepiece is printed with the motto ‘Invenit et Fecit,’ Latin for ‘(He) invented it and made it,’ indicating in-house construction, vertical integration, and the highest possible standards. The recipient of numerous patents, Journe’s horological innovations have earned him plaudits from across the industry.

Today, F.P. Journe operates 10 boutiques around the world. Its incredibly well regarded wares have raised over two million CHF for various charities via auctions, only furthering to cement both the brand and the man in the annals of horological history.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.