F.P. Journe - a name that can make the hearts of the world’s most seasoned collectors beat faster. One of the most talented and exciting watchmakers of his generation might have been a butcher if his cousin was not head of the watch-making school of Marseilles, as he likes to joke. The truth is, after having been expelled from school, his parents placed him in the watchmaking program headed by his cousin. Taking consideration of his aptitudes, he continued his studies in Paris (graduating in 1976) and worked for a few years with his uncle, a renowned restorer of antique watches in Paris where he got the opportunity to restore some of the most important timepieces of horological history. In 1985 he set up his own workshops creating bespoke pocket watches for top collectors.

Fascinated by tourbillon watches Journe had decided to transpose Abraham-Louis Breguet’s invention into a wristwatch but by bettering it via the addition of a remontoire system. The first prototype was made in 1991 and the commercially available version in 1999. The world’s very first wristwatch combining a remontoire and tourbillon was thus launched as the Tourbillon Souverain . The remontoire is a constant force device used to provide an equal amount of energy, thus resulting in greater accuracy and amplitude.

Produced in extremely limited numbers between 1999 and 2003 the present lot, numbered 58/99 was the 58th example made in 1999 also features a very rare pink dial. A modern masterpiece the Journe Tourbillon Souverain is an icon of contemporary independent horology and a must have in any collection.