On the front and back of every timepiece manufactured by the independent watchmaker François-Paul Journe, there is inscribed a Latin message: Invenit et Fecit.
Years ago, it became a mantra for me. Invenit et fecit. Invented and built. Discovered and done.
In Classical Latin, you pronounce every letter—in-way-nit et (like bet) fekit. No soft syllables, no graceful elision. I’ve always liked that. For the work of invention and building is tough—fitting, then, to use phraseology that makes you eat your syllabic vegetables.
