This year, Revolution turns 20. Two decades of chronicling watches, people and ideas have given us a front-row seat to a remarkable story: how an age-old craft has both preserved its soul and reinvented itself for the 21st century. To celebrate, we’ve chosen over 100 names and milestones that, for us, define the era so far. From leaders to watches, you can see the whole list here.

In an age of digital gimmicks, visionary watchmaker F.P. Journe looked to a 17th century technology to create a revolutionary timepiece with unmatched precision. What’s extraordinary — and brave — about the Chronomètre à Résonance is that, at the time of its launch, it was only the second wristwatch to come from the independent manufacture of F.P. Journe, and over a decade in the making.

Journe had been inspired by Dutch mathematician Christiaan Huygens, who noticed that two pendulum clocks set on the same surface would, over time, fall into sync. This is the principle of “resonance” — a word used by Journe to describe this phenomenon, though at the time Huygens referred to it as a “double pendulum.”

An early version of Chronomètre à Résonance in 38mm (Image: Phillips)

The Chronomètre à Résonance, brought to life in 2000, harnesses the concept behind this phenomenon: two oscillators beating in sync via resonance. Journe, inspired by the historical studies of resonance by Antide Janvier and Abraham-Louis Breguet, finally adapted the phenomenon for the wristwatch. In Journe’s interpretation, two balance wheels placed in close proximity gradually fall into rhythm, mirroring each other like two hearts co-regulating to the same beat.

The Chronomètre à Résonance in Platinum

“The Chronomètre à Résonance has two complete movements that transmit energy to each other, and if adjusted in all positions to less than five seconds per day, the two balance wheels start to harmonize; the energy of one transmits to the other and vice versa,” says Journe. “The watch will thus be accurate on the wrist because the resonance effect will cancel the negative effects of the wrist’s movements. If I move my arm, one balance wheel will go faster, and the one in opposition will slow down by the same amount. The energy they share will put them in sync again and the disruption will be canceled. This is the principle of the Chronomètre à Résonance”.

Manual winding Caliber 1520

The Résonance features two dials, each displaying time independently, classic Journe: slightly eccentric yet elegant, and Invenit et Fecit on the dial proudly proclaims Journe’s mantra: he invented it, and he made it.

Tech Specs: F.P. Journe Chronomètre à Résonance

Movement: Manual winding Caliber 1499 (early) or 1520, with twin balance wheels in resonance; 42-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes and small seconds
Case: 38mm × 9.1mm (early editions), or 40mm × 10.8mm; platinum or 18K rose gold
Dial: 18K gold or ruthenium with dual dial displays
Strap: Leather