F.P.JOURNE CREATES A UNIQUE CHRONOGRAPH FOR THE PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO FOUNDATION

At the Riva Aquarama Lounge of the Yacht Club de Monaco, F.P.Journe and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco have unveiled a timepiece conceived for a purpose beyond horological distinction. Created as a unique piece for the benefit of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the chronograph will be auctioned later this year, with all proceeds directed towards the Foundation’s environmental work.

The watch occupies an unusual position within F.P.Journe’s chronograph history. François-Paul Journe has previously developed the Chronographe Rattrapante, Chronographe FlyBack and Centigraphe, each interpreting elapsed time through a distinctly technical lens. This new creation marks the first time he has produced a classic chronograph in this particular form, giving the complication a comparatively direct and balanced expression.

Its architecture is deliberately clear. A central chronograph hand sweeps across the dial, accompanied by a 30-minute counter at three o’clock and a tachymeter scale around the periphery. Small seconds occupy the nine o’clock position, while a large date display sits at six. The arrangement gives the burgundy dial a strong visual rhythm, balancing the practical information of the chronograph with the more expressive details that distinguish the unique piece.

Colour and material provide much of its character. The 42 mm case combines platinum with 18K 6N gold, the latter used for the caseband, crown and pushers. On the reverse, an engraving reading “Fondation Albert II – 2026” identifies the watch’s purpose and place within the Foundation’s history of philanthropic collaborations.

The burgundy lacquered dial introduces another layer of symbolism. Its numerals take inspiration from oracle bone script, among the earliest known forms of Chinese writing, while the tachymeter scale is rendered in whitened silver. Grey sapphire counters are framed by titanium surrounds, creating a subtle contrast with the warmer tones of the dial and gold elements. At six o’clock, the large date aperture is formed in sandblasted white gold. The steel hands are matt rhodium-plated, with ivory-coloured and red-lacquered details contributing to the restrained but highly specific palette.

The choice of oracle-bone-inspired numerals is particularly resonant within the broader story of F.P.Journe. The independent watchmaker has long approached contemporary horology through a close study of historical watchmaking, treating past technical discoveries and decorative languages as sources for new interpretations rather than simply reproducing them. Its own history describes François-Paul Journe’s fascination with the 18th century as a formative influence on his approach to the science of time measurement.

François-Paul Journe was born in Marseille in 1957 and began his career in horology through restoration, working with his uncle in Paris before moving to Switzerland and developing complications for established watch companies. He established his own movement-manufacturing activity in Switzerland in 1989 and subsequently developed the concept that would become his independent watchmaking house. Montres Journe SA was created in Geneva in July 1999, the same period in which the first F.P.Journe collection bearing the signature “Invenit et Fecit” — Latin for “invented and made” — entered the world.

That phrase remains an apt description of the maison’s philosophy. F.P.Journe’s watches are distinguished by an emphasis on original mechanical solutions, independent research and a willingness to place technical ideas visibly at the centre of the design. The brand’s early Tourbillon Souverain, presented in 1999, established the foundation for a collection that would subsequently include innovations such as the Chronomètre à Résonance and Centigraphe.

The Foundation connection is not new, either. F.P.Journe has supported the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation since 2018, creating unique watches specifically for fundraising initiatives. Earlier collaborations have included a Chronographe Rattrapante in 2018 and a Chronomètre Optimum in 2022. In 2024, a unique Chronomètre à Résonance created for the Foundation’s Ball in Monaco in Singapore was auctioned by Phillips for SG$4 million, with the proceeds directed to the Foundation.

The latest chronograph therefore belongs to an established pattern of using exceptional watchmaking as a vehicle for environmental philanthropy. The timing is particularly significant: the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is marking its 20th anniversary in 2026, having been established by the Sovereign Prince in 2006 to address environmental protection and sustainable development on an international scale. Its work centres on three principal areas — climate change and renewable energy, biodiversity, and water resources and desertification — with projects concentrated across the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and Least Developed Countries.

Over the years, the Foundation has built an international network around scientific research, conservation, technological innovation and partnerships with public and private organisations. Its current mission describes a broader goal of advancing planetary health for present and future generations, linking environmental protection with practical solutions and collaboration.

The unique F.P.Journe chronograph will provide another tangible expression of that relationship. On 25 November 2026, it is scheduled to be auctioned in partnership with Phillips during the “Voyage Extraordinaire” gala dinner at Raffles Sentosa Singapore, an event marking the Foundation’s 20th anniversary. Every sum generated by the sale will benefit the Foundation, giving the watch a role that extends beyond its status as a one-off work of independent haute horlogerie.

For collectors in the UAE, F.P.Journe’s official boutique network currently includes a dedicated Dubai boutique at The Dubai Mall, Fashion Avenue Extension, First Floor, #293, Financial Center Road, Downtown Dubai. The boutique is operated by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons and is listed by F.P.Journe as part of its international network of boutiques and authorised spaces.

There is something appropriate about a chronograph being chosen for a philanthropic project concerned with the future. Its essential function is to record duration, while the Foundation’s work is concerned with the consequences of time — how environmental decisions made today shape the conditions inherited by future generations.

F.P.Journe’s unique creation brings those ideas together without sacrificing the individuality expected of an exceptional timepiece. Its burgundy dial, platinum and gold case, classical chronograph architecture and unusual numerals give it a distinct physical identity, while its single-edition status and charitable purpose place it within a different kind of horological history. When the hammer eventually falls in Singapore, the watch will cease to be simply a unique creation by François-Paul Journe. It will become part of the continuing record of what can happen when fine watchmaking is placed in service of something larger than itself.