I must admit that the geographical origin of the Halcyon Journey aroused some reluctance even before opening its box. Chinese watches are still too often associated with low-end products. However, this piece was able to overturn my prejudices and offer me a pleasant surprise.
The Halcyon Journey watch comes from Jingdezhen, a city nestled in the north of Jiangxi province in China, often referred to as world capital of porcelain. This prestigious title is not usurped: for centuries, local artisans have perfected the art of working with this material. Already during the Tang dynasty, Jingdezhen was described as a place where kilns “connected villages together”.
This know-how reached its peak during the Ming and Qing, when porcelain produced in this region was intended for the imperial court. Today, the tradition lives on in modern applications like Halcyon watches.
The idea of incorporating porcelain into watchmaking is not common. Halcyon relies on this cultural heritage to distinguish itself, and the choice of this material as a dial embodies a subtle and timeless elegance.
Its manufacturing requires remarkable technical mastery and artisanal know-how. Porcelain is fragile and requires perfect firing to avoid defects. Halcyon stands out as one of only three brands in the world to employ a master porcelain maker for this type of product. We can still cite Blancpain, Seiko or Frederique Constant who knew how to use porcelain for their dials.
The Halcyon Journey's dial, in an immaculate eggshell white, reflects a soft light which gives the watch a luxurious but discreet appearance.
The watch I tested has a Japanese movement. Miyota 9039produced by Citizen. This automatic caliber is widely appreciated for its precision and robustness.
With a power reserve of 42 hours and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, it rivals some entry-level Swiss movements. It's called a "tractor" for its durability.
If the Halcyon Journey shines in certain aspects, it does not escape some criticism. First of all, the leather bracelet leaves a mixed impression. Although it is soft and pleasant on the wrist, its overall quality seems out of step with the rest of the watch.
Premature wear is to be feared, which can be a bit disappointing for a product priced at 780 euros.
In order to prevent the dial from an elephantine fall from our wrist, we would have liked one folding clasp rather than a pin buckle because it is likely that we will become attached to this pretty timepiece 🙂
This watch is a nice surprise which owes a lot to the nobility of its dial. It constitutes a beautiful tribute to porcelain which brings a singular elegance that we like to add to our watch collection.
The website: halcyonwatch.com
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