Hosted by François-Paul Journe, Founder, Montres F.P. Journe, Switzerland
Hidden below the dial, the calendar complication holds centuries worth of fascinating technical development. From simple to perpetual calendars, that development has never stopped. Today, the complication represents a desire to master the specificities of the multiple calendar systems in use worldwide. At the October meeting of the Horological Society of New York, François-Paul Journe will host a discussion on the history of calendars with a panel of world-class experts.
Mr. Journe will be joined by Pierre Halimi Lacharlotte, General Manager of Montres Journe America, Jack Forster, Editor in Chief of HODINKEE, Noel Poirier, Director of the National Watch & Clock Museum and Keith Lehman, Editor of NAWCC's WatchNews. A display of important calendar pocket watches from Mr. Journe’s personal collection and from the National Watch & Clock Museum will be on display, as well as the new F.P. Journe Quantième Perpétuel with instantaneous jump.
François-Paul Journe
About François-Paul Journe
In the exclusive world of haute horology, François-Paul Journe has explored the measurement of time for over 33 years with a unique sense of creativity and innovation. As an independent contemporary master watchmaker, he draws on his historical knowledge and expertise to face the most daring horological challenges, conceiving entirely new calibres with a timeless consistency.
At the crossroad between Arts and Haute Horology, the independent F.P. Journe Manufacture produces its movements in 18K rose Gold, a first in the watch world and unique signature of the brand. In the respect of the haute horology tradition, Francois-Paul Journe labeled his watches with Invenit et Fecit- (invented and made), guaranteeing an exclusive in-house calibre, entirely invented, constructed, and assembled in the Geneva workshops. F.P. Journe produces no more than 900 precision watches per year. These innovative unparalleled mechanisms such as the Chronomètre à Résonance, the Sonnerie Souveraine or the Tourbillon Souverain have earned F.P. Journe the world’s most prestigious horological awards.
About Pierre Halimi Lacharlotte
After completing his studies at ESCP (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris), Mr. Halimi-Lacharlotte established a company in Miami for the distribution of Swiss watches in the USA.
In 1987 at Baselworld, he met François-Paul Journe, an independent watchmaker with a thoroughly different approach who draws on his historical knowledge to create innovative precision chronometers. This changed his vision of the watch industry in favor of independent horology with a genuine authenticity, offering manufacture calibres and he discovers the exclusive world of haute horology.
In 2009, Mr. Halimi-Lacharlotte became F.P. Journe’s partner in the company in charge of the Americas. After introducing independent haute horology to the American consumer, he has developed the American market into a success with four F.P. Journe Boutiques, six Espaces, and a network of top qualified retailers.
About Jack Forster
Jack Forster is Editor in Chief of HODINKEE. He first became interested in watches as a student in graduate school, and spent many years collecting and repairing vintage pocket watches as a hobby. From 2006 to 2015 he was a part of Revolution Press Ltd, first as Group Technical Editor, and then as Editor in Chief for the US edition of Revolution Magazine. He is the author of Cartier: Time Art, a catalogue for the exhibition of the same name, which chronicles the history of watch and clockmaking at Cartier from its inception to the present day.
About Noel Poirier
Noel Poirier is the Museum Director for the National Watch & Clock Museum, operated by the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors. Mr. Poirier has been with the Museum for ten years, overseeing the Museum’s achievement of accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums. He serves on the Board of Advisors of Wristwatch Magazine and is a member of the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, the Horological Society of New York, and the Early American Industries Association.
About Keith Lehman
Keith Lehman is the Editor of NAWCC's WatchNews. Hired by the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors in 2015, Lehman had been a freelance artist for the National Watch and Clock Museum since 2011. He worked for the Tibetan Aid Project and at the Odiyan Retreat Center in California where he helped with bronze casting for the Cintamani Temple and designed Western-style Tibetan prayer books for the World Peace Ceremony in Bodh Gaya, India.