Black tie for the Élégante Titalyt by F.P. Journe

François-Paul Journe is not only a genius in the field of micromechanics and the art of watchmaking, but also a person well acquainted with the dynamics of a product’s life. One is that it must be periodically updated, if not restyled, in order to keep the customer’s attention on it.

A dynamic he also applies to the Élégante. This model was presented in 2014 in its 40 mm lug-to-lug in titanium and Titalyt version. In 2016, the 48 mm model was introduced. Titalyt is a process that submits titanium to an electro-plasma oxidation process to improve the metal’s resistance to wear and corrosion, increasing its hardness.

Today, four years later, the Élégante Titalyt is back in the news for another update – purely aesthetic this time. An update that intervenes on one of the watch’s distinctive features, the beautiful white opalescent dial. Which now becomes black.

ÉLÉGANTE TITALYT: A SPECIAL WATCH

The Élégante’s design is not only different from any previous F.P. Journe watch, but different from any other timepiece on the market. For its absolute uniqueness, the Élégante has since attracted enthusiastic followers from all corners of the watchmaking world.

The Élégante is neither masculine nor feminine; it is simply a special watch that makes energy-saving, user-friendliness and luxury its winning weapons. In creating the calibre 1210, F.P. Journe did not simply hide a quartz movement in the case as many do, but created one worth of being proudly displayed. 

THE 1210 CALIBRE

It was worth the wait, because the 1210 calibre has some prodigious features. Firstly, it goes on stand-by when the Élégante Titalyt is not on the wrist. The calibre is made to sense the wearer’s movement, and after 35 minutes of inactivity it switches off. Once put back on, the hands return to the correct time by moving clockwise or anticlockwise, depending on which is the shortest path to save energy.

This extreme care in design results in a battery life of over 8 years, which becomes 18 years on standby. The movement also uses two separate motors for the hour and minute hands in order to eliminate energy losses resulting from friction in the presence of long gear trains.

All the mechanical elements of the Élégante movement are produced by F.P. Journe based on the criteria of excellence that characterise the brand in the haute horlogerie segment. The electronic components are manufactured in Switzerland to exclusive standards, with a microprocessor created specifically for the watch.

A NEW DIAL

Having said that, as written above, the real novelty of this new version of the Élégante Titalyt lies in the colour of the sapphire dial, which turns from white to black. Despite this, the special treatment with photoluminescent material ensures the dial’s exceptional legibility in the dark.

The only opening is still the one at 4.30, which does not show an oscillating mass (as it might seem), but the movement detector, the watch’s true brain working to save as much energy as possible.

The case also remains the same. The design is the recognisable tortoiseshell one, the material is still grade 5 titanium with Titalyt treatment, the dimensions are the same: 48×40 mm and 7.95 mm thick. There is also a precious version in which the case is enriched with 418 brilliant-cut diamonds, intended mainly for a female clientele that loves watches of generous dimensions.

THE ÉLÉGANTE TITALYT’S FREE SPIRIT

The spirit of the Élégante Titalyt is reflected in the choice of the rubber strap, whose ergonomic shape wraps around the wrist comfortably and precisely. Even in the version with a black dial, the colour palette is broad: grey, burgundy, orange, yellow, white, deep blue, midnight blue, khaki green, black, anthracite, as well as, more recently, grey and turquoise. The price of the watch starts at CHF 16,000 excluding tax.

Combined with any one of them, the watch always retains its charm, as you can see in our shooting, made possible thanks to the collaboration of GMT ‘Great Masters of Time’. A partner of F.P. Journe since 2007, in 2014 the Milanese retailer was the first in Europe to open an Espace F.P. Journe where collectors and enthusiasts can see and touch the entire watch collection. The Élégante Titalyt included.

By Davide Passoni