Story Highlight
– First Chronomètre à Résonance to be auctioned commercially.
– Estimated price ranges from CHF 500,000 to 1 million.
– Serial number 022 is the earliest for sale.
– Acquired in 1999, predates model’s official launch.
– Phillips sold three historic Chronomètre à Résonance watches in 2026.
Full Story
Phillips auction house has revealed plans to present what is expected to be the first-ever commercially available Chronomètre à Résonance at The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV, scheduled for 7–8 November 2026.
This timepiece, which carries the serial number 022/99R, is being sold by its original owner after a remarkable 27 years. It comes with a significant valuation of CHF 500,000 to 1,000,000, positioning it as a noteworthy piece in the world of horology.
Originally, the first twenty Chronomètre à Résonance watches were allocated to supporters of the Tourbillon Souverain Souscription initiative, while the number 021 was kept by François-Paul Journe as his personal example.
The serial number 022 represents the earliest available for public sale, as the original owner specifically selected this number to correspond with his birthdate. He obtained the watch in 1999, prior to the model’s official launch the following year, and has cherished it ever since.
This watch is part of a limited collection of approximately ten pre-production examples, predating the Souscription and Pre-Souscription Résonance models that have graced recent auction events.
The 38mm platinum watch features design elements that are highly sought after by aficionados of early F.P. Journe pieces, including subtle engravings on the caseback, a lustrous pink gold dial accompanied by silver-toned subdials, and a brass movement.
The context of the auction is also significant; in just 2026, Phillips has successfully sold three historic Chronomètre à Résonance watches, netting over $23 million in total. Highlights include the Souscription No. 007, which fetched $13.9 million in May, marking a record for an independent watchmaker’s piece in the Americas. The interest in early F.P. Journe watches continues to thrive.
