Even as a non-speaker, I feel like I can truly appreciate the French language. Take, for instance, the latest addition to the F.P. Journe lineSport collection: the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante.

The watch name sounds great, but what does it actually mean? A “rattrapante” is just a fancy way of saying a split-seconds chronograph, which essentially means that two intervals can be timed instead of only one. So far so good.

F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante in red gold

A “monopoussoir”, on the other hand translates to a monopusher. More precisely, it’s a button that is integrated into the crown that operates the start, stop and reset of the chronograph. In many ways that’s a primitive way to go about it, since additional pushers were added to the chronograph over a century ago.

While the name indicates a watch that is perhaps more complicated than it actually is, F.P. Journe has managed to make the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante look good nonetheless.

The new watch comes in three different versions, all in a 44mm diameter package that is 12mm thick. The platinum model sports a blue-mauve colour silver guilloche dial, the red gold model is covered with ruthenium, while the titanium model is paired with an aluminum alloy in anthracite.

Each one is handsome in its own right, but I’m partial to the red gold option, in most part thanks to the elegant look and great contrast on the textured dial. I also like the very large date on the south side of the dial, which is not at all out of place with the rest of the hour indices.

The elegant case encloses the brand’s own calibre 1518, a new manual winding movement that promises up to 80 hours of power reserve (without chronograph function). The movement was inspired by the brand’s contribution to the Only Watch auction and sports a tachymeter bezel - inlaid with ceramic for extra durability - and similar typographic numerals.

F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante in titanium

Back to that fancy Monopoussoir. The rubberized crown serves three functions on this watch: winding, setting the date, and setting the time. It is also one of the more elegant crowns I’ve seen on a chronograph.

Two additional pushers – made from the same material as the case – operate the chronograph functions and the split-second function.

All in, the new Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante is a handsome watch by all counts. But I still like the name better.