Tick-Talk TickTalk Blog
In the footsteps of Antide Janvier and Abraham-Louis Breguet, who made double-pendulum clocks based on the natural phenomenon of resonance, François-Paul Journe presented his first Résonance wristwatch, which utilises acoustic resonance, in 2000.
The F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Résonance is one of the rare wristwatches that utilize the physical natural resonance without any mechanical transmission phenomenon, previously known as double pendulum or double balance. Each of the two balances alternately serves as exciter and resonator. When the two balances are in movement, they enter into harmony thanks to the resonance phenomenon and begin to beat naturally in opposition. The two balances then support each other, giving more inertia to their movement. This result is possible only if the difference of the frequency from one to the other does not exceed 5 seconds per day cumulated on six positions. Their setting is an extremely delicate task.
Whereas an external disturbance affects the running of a traditional mechanical watch, the same disturbance, for the Chronomètre à Résonance, produces an effect that accelerates one of the balances as much as it slows down the other. Little by little, the two balances come back towards each other to find their point of harmony, thus eliminating the disturbance, and beating in perfect synchronization. This emblematic watch that distinctively signs François-Paul Journe’s horological research on precision was awarded “Montre à Grande Complication” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2010. François-Paul Journe has conceived several versions of his wristwatch throughout the last 20 years, with a new version unveiled in 2020.
The new Chronomètre à Résonance has only one single barrel spring to provide power for the two movements. A differential placed on the first wheel, visible in the centre of the dial, transmits, independently, the energy of the barrel spring towards the two secondary gear trains. Each secondary gear train is equipped with a remontoir d’égalité of a frequency of 1 second. Working in such a way, the force received by the escapements remains linear and assures isochronism throughout 28 hours. The Chronomètre à Résonance features a redesigned case with a crown now placed at 2 o’clock. This model is available in platinum or gold in 40 or 42mm diameter.
