Hi Levicrush, that is indeed a fantastic buying experience! Similarly, working with the FPJ Service Center in Miami, I was assigned a 'Guardian Angel' who looked after my watches as they (...ever...so...slowly..) went through the service and overhaul process. The NYC FP Journe Boutique is equally helpful and enjoyable to be around. So far, I've only bought straps from them, but once I win the lottery, that's where I'll get my Chronomètre Optimum. Kindest regards, Bill

Hey Rudi...considering the source of where I got the idea... For me, it was fun too! Cheers, Bill

Bruce I got the watch pictures. Thin and elegant. That's watchmaking at it's nadir! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you too ... and some great deals on watches as a holiday wish! Cheers, Bill

Thanks WA! That's a perfect way of putting ! Cheers, Bill

Or Bill ... you could consider a pre-owned FP Journe Chronomètre Souverain in gold or platinum and get a power reserve indicator to boot. Of course, signing up for a Bleu is a great way to have time to save! Merry Christmas to you & yours! Cheers, Bill

Hi Barış .... I had fun too! Yes, the CB does have a powerful amount of fans, many of whom are willing to wait for years to get one! FPJ does rock the boat! Cheers, Bill

Hey Bill Merry Christmas ... got the card! My bucket has no bottom...so I guess I have a 'Sieve List' Cheers, Bill

They are indeed popular but have gone to the far side of the moon price wise...PE. Take care, Bill

Hey Jessie, they have a waiting list of almost 100 at the NYC boutique, and that may have had something to do with the love. Both the NYC Boutique and the Miami FPJ Service Center have been wonderful towards me, and when my ship comes in, I'll get the Chronometre Optimum they have there in NYC! My CS is my favorite watch matched only by my H. Moser and Bovet....and my Parmigianis...What's next on your wish list? Cheers, Bill

⁠@@watchartsci So funny I am REvisiting this. I am chasing the CO pretty hard. My Miami contact moved to NYC. It's been through three years since. I was hoping for allocation in 2025. The new prices are painful, but that's the patience price. I am looking forward to checking out the new London boutique and getting to the new Soho in the future.

@@jessieanderson3931 Jesse ...I don't know what the best strategy would be to get your hands on a CO, but you might try contacting contact several FPJ boutiques and see if you can determine the shortest waiting list. Let me know what you can work out.

Hey DG B, that is so cool! They just happened to have one in the Paris Boutique...and Bob's your uncle! If you think the dial is magic, look at the back and use the balance cock as a pointer to the escape wheel and you can see the fork...but where is the end of the wheel train?! It must be there somewhere because it keeps on ticking. It's a wonderful watch no matter how you look at it...and as tough as nails. Cheers and congratulations! Bill

Amintas! Great to hear from you, and now that you are closer in timeline, please join us for some live streams! (GMT +2 , no?) Journe is famous (or infamous) for his behavior; none of which outside of his watch designs are well loved. As far as affordable is concerned, indeed your strategy makes sense...but with these temperamental artist...who knows? feliz Natal e Feliz Ano Novo Bill

Hi Henry ... forget about the Bleu. Get the gold or platinum CS. Take care, Bill

@@watchartsci with the way the market is, that will surely be my best possibility of getting a Journe!

Hi Decha, for some reason the Elegance 48s seem to have become scarce. The watch is based on the unique quartz movement designed and developed by FPJ, and while at 48mm, it's a big boy, it would be a unique addition to most collections. Kindest regards, Bill

Hey Richard, there is great love for the Bleu, and I feel the same way about my Souvrain ... same movement..plus power reserve indicator and shorter lines! I do like Bleus, though. Now all the lists are in Geneva ... good move. Traveling in India ... sounds like something that would happen to me! Cheers, Bill

WatchArtSci love your Soverain. The blue is such a unique watch imo (lot of reasons you stated in video). Dial goes black to blue to purplish hues it is amazing And heard in the bleu that there is no drive train but that black magic Makes the escapement work. ;-)

It's either witch craft or black magic (maybe Voodoo...?) I can't believe I just discovered that hidden linking ... actually, I didn't find it; just found out about it and have been looking at my own watch trying to see how they did it! The Bleu's colors act like a real kaleidoscope .... I just get to see the hands on my CS go from black to blue. Cheers, Bill

Depending on where you go you can find CBs to order at boutiques. New York of course has the longest waiting list because the number of people. I’m willing to bet the list in Kiev is significantly shorter... Regardless... I never felt the love from the New York boutique like I did Miami. I got to meet executives and they just had a nice presence. That’s surely why they are growing into a larger boutique! I’d, personally, buy my next FPJ from them because of their persistence and personality.

Someone walked into the Paris boutique recently and picked up a CB...no muss; no fuss...but lots of luck!

Yes, they have 4 and 3 of them are over $40k Pat ... steep! Kindest regards, Bill.

Hey Mainspring! Also check out some really good buys on Chronomètre Souverains while you're saving. They have the same movement as the Bleu, plus they have a power reserve indicator. Bleus are wonderful watches, but the gold and platinum ones aren't bad either! Good hunting, Bill

Hi Pat, an FP Journe Chronomètre Bleu sold new for about $22k from an AD a few years ago. If you bought one, then, $37k would be very nice to get for it. I'ver seen them for around $40k+. It's a crazy hobby we have. Kindest regards, Bill.

No Neil, not just Rolex, but maybe for a different reason. For Rolex who produces out 1.4 million units a year, it's a matter of smartly controlling the supply. F.P. Journe only does between 800-900 total because of craftsmanship limits. Nothing wrong with Rolexes, they're just meeting a different demand...of course the unobtainium has to come from a mine on Mars for both Rolex & FPJ... Cheers Bill

I was told FP Journe only made 640 watches last year.

Hi Rudi, you may be right, but most guesstimates are between 800-900 ( watchesbysjx.com/2017/05/hands-on-with-the-f-p-journe-black-label-minute-repeater.html ), but if around 150 less watches were produced because new models, whims, or whatever, I wouldn't be surprised. Cheers, Bill

I didn't know you had a Bleu, SouthNC. Tell me about it. Thanks, Bill

Well, Pat, you know how it is ... you just never know! Cheers, Bill

Akmaster, where did you read they do not have overcools in their hairsprings? Take care, Bill

@@watchartsci For the Chronometre Bleu, it's stated on their website under the watch's technical specifications, and for Roger Smith's I forgot where exactly, but they both use flat balance spring and I wonder why. Did I miss something?

@@akmaster001 Hi Akmaster ... you didn't miss a thing ... well maybe one thing. This is a quote from one of the Journe Guy's comments on the Optimum, "The final spice that Mr. Journe added to the movement [Optimum's movement] lies with the balance wheel/spring itself. The Optimum is the only Journe in today’s collection that utilizes a Phillips curve with regards to the hairspring, allowing a more concentric movement thanks to its three dimensional shape." I thank you for providing this nugget of information! Take care, Bill

@@watchartsci you'd expect grail watches such as Journe's Bleu and Roger Smith's to at least have the overcoil hairspring...I hope they have a good reason for this other than to cut the cost. Chronometre Optimum is a totally different story, its version of breguet's natural escapement and the remontoire is really something else albeit being quite delicate.

@@akmaster001 I doubt it's the cost, but I have no idea why.

No one is making customers wait 8 years. FPJ chose to focus on quality, and quality cannot be rushed, Timothy. Take care and be safe, Bill😷

Timothy, FPJ has lots of charities, and they're not for watch collectors. Take care and be safe, Bill😷

Timothy, it's rare because it's not part of mass production, and collectors appreciate the artistry of FPJ. Take care and be safe, Bill😷

@@watchartsci Thanks for the reply Bill. As always, succinct,lol short and sweet. I apologize for taking the comments section hostage with my rant. I do agree that the watches are something special, they are one of the very few watches that one can identify with just a glance. His style is unique, when you see one you know it's an F.P. and nothing else. Can I separate the man himself from the watches?, I dont know. Having never met him i shouldn't presume to judge his character. However, his company is not a "microbrand" company, hasn't been for a long time. I know there are costs, in both time and money, but the greater part of these manufacturing costs are bought and payed for, he doesn't have to buy new machinery every year, his distribution networks,( boutiques, A.D.s, shipping etc.) Are well established by now, so to tell a customer that they can't ship more then one Chronmetre blue per month to their own A.D.s is ridiculous.

@@styx4947 It's the artistry. It's like getting an original Picasso. Think of it that way, and you'll understand. Not a print, but an original. Take care and be safe. Bill😷