We visited the manufacture F.P.Journe in November 2023, and bring you some insights on the maison and how their watches are made. Here are our takeaways of the most important facts about the manufacture which you may not already know.
Very important and interesting facts about the F.P.Journe manufacture which you may not already know
Many have asked, if F.P.Journe, being such a small manufacturer, do all their manufacturing in-house?After all, they are only delivering about 1,000 mechanical watches (plus about 500 Élégante electro mechanical models) a year. We also wondered the same and made a request to visit the manufacture at their Headquarters at 40 rue de la Synagogue in downtown Geneva. We were warmly welcome into the building, and as implausible as it may seem, we are witness that over 95% of the F.P.Journe watches are made in their own factories. This impressive value add is made in the rue de la Synagogue premises and at the Cadraniers et Boîtiers Genève facility. This facility is owned by F.P.Journe and is located in Meyrin in the outskirts of Geneva. Here is the lowdown.
95% manufactured in-house
The HQ at 40 rue de la Synagogue showroom also houses the Manufacture
The main showroom is in the old town of Geneva, not more than a short distance from the luxury street of Rue du Rhône, where the F.P.Journe restaurant is located at Nr.49. We were treated to a wonderful lunch at the restaurant during our visit, and highly recommend a reservation when you are in town for a good meal. But we digress. Back to the HQ.
As one enters the building, a stair case leads to the main reception area. When the F.P.Journe brand was launched in 1999, this room housed the entire production for the brand. François-Paul later acquired the rest of the building, and the original production area is now the reception. Right up from the entry steps, the magnificent Astronomical clock made by French watchmaker Constantin-Louis Detouche, clockmaker to the city of Paris and to Emperor Napoleon III, takes center stage. This clock was made in 1855, for the first Paris Universal exhibition. On its left is a globe, dating from 1720, originally belonging to Dauphin of Louis XIV. And on the wall right at the end of the reception is the entire collection of the Jean-Claude Sabrier library, which the maison acquired in 2015. Look up, and the frescos on the ceiling are reproductions of the first sky charts by Apianus, astronomer to Charles Quint (circa 1550). A truly exquisite reception area, heralding the sense of style and elegance that F.P.Journe exudes from her products. And of course, and extension of the personality of François-Paul himself.
And right in between the library shelves is the door leading to the rest of the manufacture. But first, the Salon Antide Janvier, which is just yonder. This is a rather normal meeting room, except that on the wall is hung the original Resonance clock by one of François-Paul’s hero – Antoine Janvier.
The clock was made circa 1780, and was the first to utilise the principle of resonance. The two pendulums move in resonance with each other, regulating the two clocks. This principle was adapted by François-Paul in his Resonance watches.
We next moved downstairs to the basement.
The manufacture of the movements are done at the Geneva premises
The basement is where the R&D is located. Of course, we did not visit the prototyping and design department. There were sensitive work that is being carried out which is not ready for global exposure yet. Here, he works with his team to invent and develop ideas for new watches here. This is the “invented” part of the motto: “Inventit e et Fecit” (invented and made) comes from. When the design sketches are completed, the dossier is handed over to the development department and used as a basis for the 900 to 1,000 technical plans needed to make a watch. So our first stop is to go to the “made” part of the motto. And this brings us first to the engineering workshop, which is also located in the basement. Here, we find the usual CNC and wire erosion machines. These machines make the components needed for the watches.
Also located here is the mechanic workshop, where the wheels, and movement components (such as pivots, axis, screws, etc) which turn are made. Components like movement plates and bridges are made in 18k rose gold. F.P.Journe is the first to use gold for their movements, and now exclusively.
Most movement plates and bridges are made of brass or German Silver (maillechort). Indeed the early F.P.Journe watches were also made in brass, and these have gained collector interest as they have been discontinued, and now very rare. And other than Parmigiani, who now makes their entire (new) Toric collection with gold movements, almost all other makers use plated brass or German Silver (which may be plated or left bare) plates and movements. Interestingly, one other deviation is the Grönefeld bridges (plates are still in brass) which are made of stainless steel for them by AP Le Loche (Renaud et Papi),. And also one particular Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Platinum 2, with a white gold tourbillon movement.
All the components and parts necessary for the manufacture of the F.P.Journe watches are made here. The case and dials are also made in-house in Meyrin.
The case and dials is made by Cadraniers and Bôitiers de Genève
To complete the picture for a fully independent maker, F.P.Journe makes their own cases and dials. The case maker, known as Les Boîtiers de Genève joined with Cadraniers de Genève in the same building in 2012. These two F.P.Journe companies, and have operated within the Geneva workshops till 2023, when they need to expand to meet the demands of the maison. This new (in 2023) factory is built in rue de Veyrot, and constructed from ground up by F.P.Journe.
The manufacture of dials and cases has always been an important expertise which François-Paul have insisted. The desire for independence has been a key feature of his brand since the beginning.
And though this is a critical part of know-how for the traditional watchmaking, most watchmaking brands outsource this. For example, A. Lange & Söhne outsources all their dials (with a few exceptions) and cases to several suppliers. Some are made for them by Quadrance (Parmigiani), and some of their cases are made by Centror (AP).
But F.P.Journe makes all their dials and cases own in-house. This gives them the full independence and vertical integration to keep the savoir faire within the maison.
Decoration and Watchmakers ateliers at the Geneva premises
The manufactured components, dials and cases come together again on the upper level of rue de la Synagogue. But before the manufacturing process begins, a thorough validation and verification process takes place for all components as part of quality control. This is done before or after the manufacturing process. The watches are also subjected to a rigorous quality control process after the delicate work of decoration is completed.
All F.P.Journe calibers are decorated to a very high level, both for function and engineering as well as for aesthetics. This laborious work requires skilled craftsmen who do this in the classical haute horlogerie way. Mostly by hand. After the decoration is complete, the components make their way to the assembly.
Just behind us and looking much like the above, are rooms which are dedicated to the assembly of one or more models.
Each watch is assembled manually, and leverage on the technical and skills of individual watchmakers who work at the workshop. Each certified watchmaker leaves his own personal touch on the watches he makes. And performs all production stages from beginning to end on his own. This includes the delicate process which follows assembly and does the rating, casing-up and testing. All by himself.
And even François-Paul himself still sits on the bench, sometimes, as he is one of four watchmakers who are allowed and capable to make some of the most complicated watches, like the Astronomic Souveraine and FFC. Though, typically, once François-Paul has taught the watchmaker responsible for the particular model, he is only involved again at the final check.
Concluding thoughts
An interesting visit! And with it, we are assured that F.P.Journe’s value addition is indeed up to the 95% that they claim. Almost everything, from inventing, concept development, prototyping, manufacturing, assembly, testing are done in-house in facilities owned by and for the exclusive use by the maison.
