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Interview: F.P. Journe on His Next Launch and Why He Avoided Volume Growth

François-Paul Journe’s 2023 interview set out a growth strategy built around complication, not higher production volume, and forecast a launch for 2027.
Estimate3–4 min Catalogued SpecialistWatchRanker Team
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In a June 2023 interview, François-Paul Journe said his next launch was planned for 2027 and that he did not want to grow production volume. Instead, he described a strategy of developing more complicated watches while keeping production rooted in Geneva. Those remarks were a forecast and a statement of intent at the time—not confirmation of the brand’s current launch schedule or operations.

What did François-Paul Journe say about his next launch?

Asked about what came next, Journe discussed a piece intended for the then-upcoming 2023 Only Watch sale. He said it would tease a series and provide a platform for a launch, then stated: “My next launch will be in 2027.” The quote appeared in Pascal Brandt’s interview for Monochrome Watches, published 27 June 2023.

That was Journe’s expectation in 2023. The interview does not establish whether the launch occurred as forecast, or what the current schedule is.

Why did he want to avoid production growth?

Journe tied higher output to a change in the scale and location of the business. “I don’t want to grow in volume; that would simply mean that my production would have to increase and that I would have to move from Rue de l’Arquebuse,” he told Brandt. He described Rue de l’Arquebuse as the Geneva headquarters and framed remaining there as part of the reason to keep production volume in check.

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His alternative was to develop the watches rather than multiply them: “Our growth goes through complication. I want to move up while maintaining a solid base, without rushing and without multiplying my production.” In this account, growth meant pursuing greater watchmaking complexity, not chasing a larger number of pieces.

How did the interview describe production and allocation?

Brandt’s article estimated production at 1,000 pieces per year and reported that customers and collectors then faced a ten-year wait. Journe said allocations were handled through wish lists at the brand’s boutiques and a small number of retailers. These are figures and descriptions reported in June 2023; they should not be treated as current production data, present wait-time guidance, or a guarantee of how allocation works today.

What facilities were planned?

The 2023 article reported plans for a new site in Meyrin to produce dials and cases, while final operations would remain at Rue de l’Arquebuse. That plan was presented as a way to support production without moving the headquarters. The interview is a contemporaneous account, not verification of the company’s current facilities or whether the plan was completed.

What did Journe say about auctions and speculation?

The interview discussed rising attention to F.P. Journe watches and auction results. It reported that 40 watches had sold at a Geneva auction for CHF 13.7 million (US$15.3 million), against a combined retail-price total of CHF 2.65 million. These are historical figures reported in 2023, not current valuations or a guide to what a watch is worth.

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Journe’s response was cautious rather than celebratory: “It’s a bit beyond me… I would like things to calm down a bit because speculation generates the risk of crushing the brand and my work.” His concern was that speculative activity could harm the brand and the work behind it; the interview should not be read as endorsing auction buying.

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What role did Heritage and after-sales service play?

Brandt’s article said the Heritage section, created in 2016, allowed collectors to acquire discontinued Journe watches serviced by the workshops. It also described restoration and after-sales service as part of plans for a new building near headquarters. This is the interview’s account of the program and plans at that time; it does not confirm current service availability or location.

What did the interview say about Chanel and succession?

The interview reported that Chanel held a 20% stake in F.P. Journe. Journe described the investors as friends who loved watches and said Chanel would have priority if shares were sold, with the arrangement protected for his children. This is a statement of the company’s reported position in 2023, not confirmation of its present ownership structure.

Which watches did Journe mention?

The interview named several creations, including the Tourbillon Souverain Subscription, Chronomètre à Résonance, and Octa Réserve de Marche. Asked about his watchmaking reference, Journe answered: “Breguet and his Perpetual of 1783. There was a before and an after.” The remark offers a glimpse of the tradition he admired, alongside his stated interest in advancing through complication.

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