The F.P. Journe élégante, a Smarter Kind of Quartz Wristwatch
By Logan Baker
F.P. Journe’s élégante redefines what a quartz watch can be.
At first glance, the F.P. Journe élégante looks deceptively simple. A luminous white dial, a tonneau-shaped titanium case set with diamonds, and Journe’s signature typography give it a quietly modern presence. But beneath that calm exterior lies one of the most inventive quartz movements ever made.
Originally launched in 2014 as a ladies’ watch, the élégante quickly found an audience among collectors of all kinds. Its popularity led to a larger 48×40mm version like the one seen here – slim at just 7.95 mm and beautifully balanced on the wrist. The Flat Tortue® case nods to early 20th-century design, yet inside beats a 21st-century innovation: the calibre 1210, an electromechanical movement developed over eight years.
A 2020 F.P. Journe élégante 48mm with a diamond-set bezel that's available for immediate purchase from Phillips Perpetual in Hong Kong. Price: HKD $850,000
At the heart of the watch is a motion detector visible at 4 o’clock. When the watch rests for 35 minutes, the hands stop to conserve energy while the microprocessor keeps time silently in the background. The moment it’s moved again, the hands spring back to the exact current time, taking the shortest route – forward or backward – with satisfying precision. The result is a watch that blends mechanical poetry with electronic intelligence, offering 8–10 years of battery life in daily use and up to 18 years in standby mode.
For Journe, the élégante represents more than a technical experiment – it’s a philosophical one. He set out to redefine what a “luxury” quartz watch could be, designing it with the same care, finishing, and intellectual rigor as his mechanical masterpieces. In doing so, he bridged two worlds that were once seen as opposites: the artistry of traditional horology and the efficiency of modern engineering.
A 2020 F.P. Journe élégante 48mm with a diamond-set bezel that's available for immediate purchase from Phillips Perpetual in Hong Kong. Price: HKD $850,000
Paired with a fully luminescent dial that glows evenly in the dark, the élégante delivers practicality without sacrificing artistry. It reflects F.P. Journe’s belief that technology should serve beauty, not overshadow it – a vision that’s made this piece one of the most quietly revolutionary watches of the past decade.
Logan has spent the past decade reporting on every aspect of the watch business. He joined Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo at the start of 2023 as the department's Senior Editorial Manager. He's based in Geneva.
