FP Journe makes Qatar debut

17 february 2006

February 13, 2006

SWISS watch company FP Journe announced the launch of its range of mechanical watches in the country (Qatar) at a press conference yesterday.

The wide range of high-precision watches, which would be on sale at the Al Majed jewellery showroom, will also be showcased at the five-day Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition beginning February 14 at the Qatar Exhibition Centre.

The cheapest watch in the FP Journe range costs about QR48,000, while the most expensive - the Tourbillon Souvrain - is priced at a staggering QR263,800.

"Who's going to buy them, you ask? The Tourbillon is in fact already sold," company officials claimed on the sidelines of the press conference at the Sheraton.

A Qatari watch collector, who "has not even seen the watch, but just heard of it," is due to buy it on the first day of the Exhibition.

If you think QR263,800 is expensive for a watch, check this. Francois-Paul

Journe, who was present at the press conference, was wearing a self-made, though not publicly launched, watch on his wrist that costs a mind-boggling $500,000.

The watch is called the Chronometre Souvrain and will be launched only next year, said FP Journe's Natalia Signoroni.

"I am just testing it right now," Journe said.

The Chronometre Souvrain, "inspired by early 19th century marine chronometry", is manually wound with 21,600v/h movement in 18-carat gold baseplates and bridges.

On the dial, Journe, who found his passion for making watches at the age of 15, achieves balance and harmony by altering the size and boldness of the numerals - a trick done neatly enough to not be immediately apparent.

FP Journe was started in 1999, with just three people being part of the watch producing team.

Today, the company, that produces about 700 watches a year, has a staff of 69 with 25 people - between the age of 25 to 35 - dedicated and trained especially for art of watch-making.