Moonstruck over F.P. Journe’s Lune Black Label

Brace yourself for the F.P. Journe Lune Black Label watch, a stunning timepiece that epitomises the brand’s commitment to luxury and exclusivity. But before we dive into the details, let’s set the scene with a little history of F.P. Journe.

François-Paul Journe founded his eponymous brand in 1999, but his love affair with watchmaking started at a young age. As a child, Journe tinkered with his grandfather’s old pocket watches, a hobby that would eventually blossom into a lifelong passion. After honing his skills with some of the world’s top watchmakers, Journe struck out on his own and launched his brand, which quickly earned a reputation for excellence.

This leads us back to the Lune Black Label watch a part of F.P. Journe’s exclusive Black Label Collection, which is available only to those lucky enough to own an F.P. Journe watch. The watch’s platinum case is available in two sizes, 40mm and 42mm, and boasts a svelte height of just 10.7mm.

The watch’s two dials are made of 18K gold, with the off-centre dial featuring gold hour numerals surfaced with a diamond tool. The main dial features a very large aperture for the date, a retrograde power reserve indication with a 120-hour scale, and the moon phases. The polished steel ring that encircles the off-centre dial is screwed to the second dial, one of the brand’s signatures. The hands are rhodium-plated steel, adding to the watch’s sleek and sophisticated appearance.

Underneath all of this precious metal magic is the exclusive Calibre 1300.3, a mechanical movement with automatic winding manufactured in 18K rose gold. It is wound unidirectionally by the exclusive off-centre F.P. Journe rotor in 22K 5N gold, using a self-locking ball-bearing system for optimal efficiency. The watch’s power reserve is sufficient to ensure precision timekeeping for over five days or 120 hours, with an effective power reserve of 160 hours ± 10 hours. 

Fittingly, one of the most notable features of the F.P. Journe Lune Black Label watch is its moon phase complication which is not only a link to ancient times when the full moon was the only source of light during the night, but is also one of the most poetic of all complications, offering an alternative perspective of the passage of time. A specific wheel train allows precise moon phase indications, which can be adjusted via the crown, making it very easy to use.

In short, the F.P. Journe Lune Black Label watch is a true work of art that showcases the brand’s mastery of watchmaking. If you’re lucky enough to own an F.P. Journe watch, be sure to add this exquisite timepiece to your collection.