F.P. Journe Octa

Octa is the line of automatic watches from F.P. Journe, the independent manufacture of François-Paul Journe. The Octa collection appeared in 2001. It is based on one idea: a common automatic base calibre on which the manufacture builds different complications. The Octa Automatique Réserve, Octa Lune and Octa UTC all use the same calibre 1300.3.

The calibre provides 120 hours — five days — of running from a single barrel. The mainplate and bridges are, with few exceptions, made of 18-carat rose gold, and the unidirectional winding rotor of 22-carat gold. The movement can be seen through a sapphire caseback.

The Octa is recognisable by its asymmetric dial. Hours and minutes are shown on an off-centre guilloché disc held by a steel frame with micro-screws. Alongside are a large two-disc date, a power-reserve scale and small seconds. The hands are blued steel and the crown is fluted.

Within the line, the choice is first of all by complication. The Octa Automatique Réserve is the base watch, with large date, power-reserve indicator and small seconds. The Octa Lune and Octa Divine 38 add moon phases. The Octa Calendrier is an annual calendar with retrograde date, day and month. The Octa UTC shows a second time zone on a map of time zones, and the Octa Chronograph is a flyback chronograph. Then comes the case metal, diameter and dial colour.

Octa models are men's watches on leather straps.