Inside F.P.Journe – A Photo Tour
From the intricate parts to the exquisite hand-finishing, the beauty of F.P.Journe watches represent the crème de la crème of watchmaking. The Hour Glass takes you on an exclusive photo tour inside the workshops of F.P.Journe.
The F.P.Journe manufacture is housed within a converted gas lamp factory in the centre of Geneva. Within the historic walls, most of the watchmaking activities happen in some 2,000 square metres of space, from the production of the intricate parts to the assembly and finishing of every F.P.Journe watch.
Components are cut from plates of metal, controlled to ensure conformity, then hand-finished.
Base plate of an Élégante being finished by hand.
Parts are cut, polished, and checked by skilled artisans before being placed in kits for assembly.
Kits containing all parts for a watch are compiled for assembly by experienced watchmakers.
All movements are assembled then tested to working order, disassembled and cleaned, before being re-assembled again by the same watchmaker, and then go through final inspection. This ensures all watches are serviceable and the assembly process is traceable.
Located in Meyrin, Les Cadraniers de Genève is the workshop responsible for creating the dials for F.P.Journe. Over the years, Les Cadraniers de Genève has accumulated rich expertise in a variety of skills and techniques for producing superb dials, from enamelling to galvanisation, and to the most intricate sandblasting.
Dial discs being galvanised.
Metallic rings laid out for stamping.
A finished stamped chapter ring ready to go on a dial.
It may take several hours to polish the dial plate for the Chronomètre Bleu. Once polished to standard, the plates are then coated with multiple layers of lacquer to achieve the distinct transparent blue colour.
The enamelling workshop at Les Cadraniers de Genève. Skilled artisans carefully apply the vitreous powder to the metallic bases by hand, which are then fired to set the enamel.
Enamelled parts may be fired several times to achieve the desired texture and effect. Once fired, the enamelled colours will not fade easily over time.
For finer details, tampography or pad printing may be used to transfer the pattern onto the part.
Stepping inside any of the individual workshops within F.P.Journe, be it at the Manufacture or at Les Cadraniers de Genève, its dial-making facilities, the common thread is the sense of tranquillity. Despite the seemingly relentless pace of its machines, it is balanced by the patient care of its artisans who work with quiet steadiness. Nothing is hurried here – there is a certain patient yet steady rhythm that underlies the activities. Perhaps that is one of the secrets to F.P.Journe, and how its creations are able to withstand the closest scrutiny. After all, soft fire makes sweet malt.
Discover F.P.Journe watches at The Hour Glass
Images ©G.Maillot_point-of-views.ch
