For its third outing supporting the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, F.P. Journe created a unique Chronomètre à Résonance that sold for S$4.00 million – equivalent to US$2.98 million – during the charity’s annual gala dinner in Singapore. As a friend of the Monegasque ruler, François-Paul Journe has long supported his namesake charity.

Now once of the most valuable recent F.P. Journe watches ever sold, the Resonance follows the LineSport Rattrapante of 2018 and the Chronometre Optimum of 2022, which have cumulatively raised several million for the charity that supports environmental causes around the world.

Echoing the livery of the Optimum of 2022, the unique Resonance has a platinum case with a burgundy dial and ruthenium sub-dials. Notably, two forms of Chinese characters: modern simplified Chinese characters on the right sub-dial, while the left register has markings in oracle bone script, the oldest form of written Chinese.

The movement is engraved on the barrel bridge: “S.A.S. Albert II Singapore 2024”

More than double the result of the Optimum in 2022, the big number for the Resonance is no surprise given the recent record-setting sale of the 1993 F.P. Journe tourbillon prototype. This arguably demonstrates that F.P. Journe has gone beyond a watchmaker or even watches, but a brand. This desirability of the F.P. Journe brand is reflected in not just the value, but how easily and quickly it was achieved at the auction during the dinner event.

Thomas Perazzi conducting the auction. Image – Phillips

With Thomas Perazzi of Phillips at the rostrum, bidding opened at S$200,000 but instantly jumped to S$1.00 million, and then swiftly onwards with impressively determined and quick bidding.

The bidding was driven by one bidder in the room at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands casino resort, along with four other international bidders participating on the phone via several Phillips representatives on the floor. Eventually it was a phone bidder who landed the watch with an even S$4.00 million, all of which goes to the charity.