Specialist Picks • 28 Nov 2023

A Look At F.P.Journe lineSport Chronographe Rattrapante

by Ida Lee

In 2017, F.P.Journe surprised the watch community with a pièce unique Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante Bleu, produced for the Only Watch charity auction. Following the success of this watch, F.P.Journe introduced the Chronographe Rattrapante in the lineSport collection a year later, with a movement inspired by the Chronograph made for Only Watch 2017.

A Sporting Spirit

Bridging the gap between innovation and sport, F.P.Journe’s lineSport collection places emphasis on comfort without sacrificing craftsmanship. Its 44mm-diameter case has a profile of 12.1mm, perfectly housing the Calibre 1518 movement.

Designed to time events that start but don’t end together, the rattrapante (or split-seconds) chronograph is akin to having two chronographs in one watch. Working the chronograph is intuitive: the pusher at 2 o’clock starts, stops, and resets to zero the superimposed sweep hands, while the pusher at 4 o’clock activates the rattrapante (one push to stop the first hand and keep the second hand running, a second push to make the stopped hand “catch up” with its partner).

Four Distinct Variants

The F.P.Journe lineSport Chronographe Rattrapante comes in four versions, all on matching metals for the case and bracelet. Featuring dials made at F.P.Journe’s dial manufacture, Les Cadraniers de Genève, each is immaculately finished with applied numerals.

CHRONOGRAPHE RATTRAPANTE In Titanium Grey

CHRONOGRAPHE RATTRAPANTE In Titanium Yellow

The two iterations in titanium boast an aluminium-alloy dial in yellow or slate grey, with its chronograph counters in engraved sapphire. Luminescent applied numerals and hands complete the look. For utmost lightness, the Calibre 1518 movement inside is made of an aluminium alloy, as a result, the watch weighs only 81g, including the bracelet.

On the 18K 6N gold and platinum models, the dial is made of silver, brimming with textures from the central guilloché hobnail pattern, and the applied Arabic numerals in gold – aesthetic details that are hallmark to F.P.Journe.

To complete the look, the typography on the bezel of the Chronographe Rattrapante is inherited from the Chronograph made for Only Watch 2017.

The Movement – Calibre 1518

Conceived and manufactured completely in-house, the Calibre 1518 powers a rattrapante chronograph and big date function. It is inspired by the Calibre 1517 and features several changes to incorporate the big date function. The Calibre 1518 relies on an oscillating pinion instead of a traditional horizontal clutch, which reduces the stutter on the chronograph function when activated.

The 285-component movement is exceptionally finished as befitting any F.P.Journe watch, including circular stripes on the bridges, circular graining on the baseplate, and straight-grained steel work.