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Coppola & Journe’s Steampunk Watch: A Masterpiece at Auction

A one-of-one F.P. Journe wristwatch, inspired by Coppola’s vision, merges haute horlogerie and cinema, set to auction next December for over $1M at Phillips New York.

Por: Raquel Seijas
FP JOURNE FFV Prototype
The FFC Prototype is the first and only Journe timepiece whose concept originated from someone outside the watchmaker

In the rolling vineyards of Napa Valley, two visionaries—Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary filmmaker, and François-Paul Journe, the master watchmaker—met in 2012. Their conversation at Coppola’s Inglenook winery would spark the creation of one of the most extraordinary timepieces in horological history: the F.P. Journe FFC Prototype.

 

Coppola, captivated by the artistry of Journe’s watches, posed a question: Had a human hand ever been used to indicate time? This simple inquiry set in motion a years-long collaboration, culminating in a watch that is as much a work of art as it is a technical marvel.

The FFC Prototype and the F.P. Journe à Résonance / Photo: Courtesy Phillips New York –

The Birth of a Unique Timepiece

The FFC Prototype is the first and only F.P. Journe timepiece whose concept originated from someone outside the watchmaker. Coppola’s idea—to use a single human hand to convey a twelve-hour period—challenged Journe to push the boundaries of watchmaking. The result is a watch that seamlessly blends mechanical ingenuity with artistic expression.

 

“The challenge was formidable – exactly the type of watchmaking project I adore. After years of collaborating directly with Francis in the development process, it was a great pleasure to deliver this FFC prototype to him in 2021,” says.

Coppola, captivated by the artistry of Journe’s watches, posed a question: Had a human hand ever been used to indicate time? / Photo: Courtesy Phillips New York

Journe drew inspiration from Ambroise Paré, the 16th-century barber surgeon known as the father of modern surgery. Paré’s prosthetic hand, Le Petit Lorrain,” with its intricate gears and springs, became the blueprint for the FFC’s automaton. The watch’s steampunk aesthetic, with overlapping metallic plates and screws, evokes the spirit of medieval gauntlets, while its movement—just 8.1mm thick—showcases Journe’s mastery of miniaturization.

A Watch of Unparalleled Rarity

Only two prototypes were ever made: one for Journe and one for Coppola. The latter, engraved with Coppola’s name, is the piece set to headline Phillips’ The New York Watch Auction: XIII on December 6-7, 2025. This historic timepiece is expected to fetch over $1 million, making it one of the season’s most anticipated lots.

 

As Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas at Phillips, notes, “This FFC Prototype is more than a watch—it is a singular work of art, a technical marvel, and a deeply personal object, made for one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.”

The Journey to Auction

The FFC Prototype will embark on a world tour, stopping in London, Geneva, and Hong Kong before arriving in New York for the auction.

 

Alongside it, six other watches from Coppola’s personal collection will be offered, including the F.P. Journe à Résonance that first connected the two artists:

F.P. Journe à Résonance, Blancpain Minute Repeater, and Breguet Classique ref. 5140 / Photo: Courtesy Phillips New York

  • Patek Philippe World Time 5130G

  • Patek Philippe Calatrava 3919

  • Breguet Classique 5140

  • Blancpain Minute Repeater

  • IWC Portugieser Chronograph 

Patek Phillipe World Timer ref. 5130G and Calatrava ref. 3919, and IWC Portugieser Chronograph / Photo: Courtesy Phillips New York

Q&A of the unique collab F.F. Coppola and F.P. Journe

  • What inspired the FFC Prototype’s unique hand design? François-Paul Journe drew inspiration from Ambroise Paré’s 16th-century prosthetic hand, “Le Petit Lorrain,” known for its intricate gears and steampunk aesthetic.
  • How did Coppola and Journe first meet? Their meeting was sparked by a 2009 Christmas gift—a F.P. Journe à Résonance watch—given to Coppola by his wife, leading to their 2012 encounter in Napa Valley.
  • Why is the FFC Prototype so rare? Only two prototypes exist: one for Journe and one for Coppola, making it the first Journe timepiece conceived by someone outside the brand.
  • What makes the FFC Prototype’s movement special? Journe’s Octa caliber 1300.3 and remontoir d’egalité power the hand mechanism, refined over seven years to fit within an 8.1mm-thick movement.
  • What is the expected auction price for the FFC Prototype? The FFC Prototype is expected to realize in excess of $1 million at Phillips’ The New York Watch Auction: XIII in December 2025.

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