FP Journe Chronometre Sougverain

[topcat30093]

Many years ago, I moved on an FP Journe Calendrier - Black Label.
This was one of my biggest Horological regrets.
Since then I have often thought about getting another Journe and one of my absolute favourites is the CS.
Now, I have the opportunity to buy a new R/G CS.
I would be grateful if owners present or past could please offer me their thoughts and views on owning such a piece?
As with all threads, photographs are most welcome and actually encouraged
I look forward to reading your thoughts.

[vlps]

It's a nice piece, one of the better time only dress watches. The earlier and now discontinued 38mm size is very collectable and whenever one goes for sale it is sold almost instantly. The 40mm models are more regularly available but just as nice of a piece, especially if the sizing is more akin to your wrist size.

[watchucallit]

I have the RG 38mm.. I love it except I find I am not wearing it much.. Have considered selling it.. but have not been able to part yet.

Originally Posted by vlps

It's a nice piece, one of the better time only dress watches. The earlier and now discontinued 38mm size is very collectable and whenever one goes for sale it is sold almost instantly. The 40mm models are more regularly available but just as nice of a piece, especially if the sizing is more akin to your wrist size.

[topcat30093]

Does anyone know how much a service costs and how often it should be returned?

[Slider817]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

Does anyone know how much a service costs and how often it should be returned?

I believe for a basic CS it should be around $1,500. I don’t believe watches need regular service intervals, that whole concept is just so brands can have some residual income. Send in you watch when it doesn’t function as it should. Personally, I would hope every 10-15 years.

[Flex368]

The RG with the gold dial is simply stunning, Tony.

Pics when I tried it on a few years ago.

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by Slider817

I believe for a basic CS it should be around $1,500. I don’t believe watches need regular service intervals, that whole concept is just so brands can have some residual income. Send in you watch when it doesn’t function as it should. Personally, I would hope every 10-15 years.

Thanks William for the info.
I did speak with the only UK AD today and they advised me that a service would take approx 6 weeks and cost £1,800 for a "Normal" service which is more expensive than Patek Philippe.

Originally Posted by Flex368

The RG with the gold dial is simply stunning, Tony.

Pics when I tried it on a few years ago.

Thanks Felix, it looks stunning.
Though, I am looking at the older style dial.

[Peterandwatches]

It's a beautiful piece for sure. I would love one, but I can't justify spending that much on a watch that I'd only wear when dressed up. The 40 mm also seemed a little big on my wrist when I tried it on.

In my research, I've seen them pop up used from time to time, and the RG one seems to be the most affordable. They're so few of them made that you may have to wait a while, but especially with rising CB prices, I think the CS can give you pretty good value.

[Flex368]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

Thanks Felix, it looks stunning.
Though, I am looking at the older style dial.

The gold dial is what makes the watch interesting IMO. Is the old dial still available new from an AD?

[topcat30093]

^^^
Yes, they can still get the original dial.
I spoke with the AD yesterday and they confirmed that there were some still available.

Has anyone else got thoughts or photos on the CS or the brand itself?

[GB-man]

Like the watch and the brand. Some day I’ll get a Journe I just can’t for the life of me figure out which one.

[Theothergreg]

Have the same as the one Flex368 posted and I love mine. To me, the gold dial is just on another level.

[Slider817]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

Thanks William for the info.
I did speak with the only UK AD today and they advised me that a service would take approx 6 weeks and cost £1,800 for a "Normal" service which is more expensive than Patek Philippe.



Thanks Felix, it looks stunning.
Though, I am looking at the older style dial.

6 weeks is a very decent turn around, Patek in NYC quoted me around 10 months for my annual calendar.

Another note on Journe service, at least in the past they replaced the strap with a new one at service, a nice touch. But hopefully you won’t be servicing your watch anytime soon.

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by Theothergreg

Have the same as the one Flex368 posted and I love mine. To me, the gold dial is just on another level.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts both pros and cons.

Originally Posted by Slider817

6 weeks is a very decent turn around, Patek in NYC quoted me around 10 months for my annual calendar.

Another note on Journe service, at least in the past they replaced the strap with a new one at service, a nice touch. But hopefully you won’t be servicing your watch anytime soon.

^^^^
Interesting to know about the strap.

[Theothergreg]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

I would be interested to hear your thoughts both pros and cons.

Pros:
1) It's an FP Journe
2) It's not a Patek
3) See #1

Cons:

[DGB]

The CS is beautiful and I find the power reserve quite handy,
Is the Chrono Bleu an option? Simple time but so beautiful



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skyrider01]

Originally Posted by DGB

The CS is beautiful and I find the power reserve quite handy,
Is the Chrono Bleu an option? Simple time but so beautiful



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The CB will be a lot more difficult to obtain than a CS.
The waitlist is at 6 to 7 years!

[uscmatt99]

I recently picked up a 38mm RG CS pre-owned from a TRF seller. I absolutely love it. I had tried on 40mm versions a couple of times and intended to get one in that size. But given the opportunity to own a discontinued piece that appeared serendipitously and fit perfectly, I couldn’t turn it down.

I had also tried on some gold dialed variants, specifically rose gold and platinum cased Octa Lunes. I like the effect with the hour markers. However, the dial felt a bit empty on the CS versions. I really enjoy the combination of the printed dial, central guilloche, and blued hands. It allows the piece to be worn more casually in my opinion. Mine came with a black croc strap, and I plan to pick up a lighter brown strap so I can change up the look.

My other two watches are a Planet Ocean Chrono and Rolex Explorer. Two very different options to be sure. Interestingly, while the cases are massively different (I could fit 2 CS into the PO), the dials are very similar in diameter across the board. That’s what really affects the look of a watch on my wrist to my eye I guess.

Lastly, while I know that the Chronometre Bleu is a very hyped watch at this time, there is no way I’d pay the premium it now demands. The CS is a much better buy pre-owned. You give up the dynamism of that blue dial and the complementary tantalum case, but you get an elegant and versatile piece with a power reserve, a must for me on a manual wind movement.

[Skyrider01]

I tried on this rose gold and black dialed version a few weeks ago. A stunning combination!

[Jay (Eire)]

It's a fantastic watch Tony but just be wary of residual value if buying new as the CS trades way down on resale. If you are patient and OK with buying used/grey you'll easily find one.

I do also believe that the dial changes this watch a lot; some of the dial iterations being far more dressy than others. I find the most versatile dial to be the white gold (not guilloche and not the MOP).