Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2008 Case No: 427-TN Model Name: Tourbillon Souverain Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 1403, 26 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F.P. Journe pin buckle Dimensions: 40mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe fitted box, Certificate of Authenticity, instruction booklet and polishing cloth and outer packaging Literature: F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit by Jean-Pierre Grosz is dedicated to Francois-Paul Journe and his work
Catalogue Essay
One reason for F.P. Journe’s success with collectors and the cognoscenti comes from the fact that he uses his immense horological culture and expertise – gained by restoring some of the most interesting and complex timepieces of the past two centuries – to create timepieces like no other, in terms of mechanics or design.
The Tourbillon Souverain Remontoire d'Egalité avec Seconde Morte was made from 2003 to 2018 and represented the second generation of Journe tourbillons. When the Tourbillon Souverain was first released commercially in 1999, it was the first wristwatch to combine a remontoire and a tourbillon; the remontoire, serving as a constant force device, resulted in greater accuracy and amplitude for the tourbillon-equipped escapement. This successor model added to the remontoire a "seconde morte", or deadbeat seconds, a mesmerizing complication first implemented in the mid-seventeenth century, but not used in wristwatches until the mid-twentieth century. The seconds hand will completely stop as the escapement continues to beat, not moving until one second has elapsed - at which point it will advance to indicate the next second.
This seems like a simple feature, but requires a complex and precise mechanism to reliably stop and restart the seconds hand so that it does not move at the same rate as the vibration of the balance wheel.
In very appealing condition, and retaining its original accessories, this Tourbillon Souverain is housed in a perfectly balanced 40mm platinum case. Inside the dial's tourbillon aperture, you can see the delicate perlage on the solid rose gold movement - a luxurious feature of Journe's calibers.
Since its discontinuation in 2019 the Tourbillon Souverain has become an avidly sought after piece.
Founded by watchmaker François-Paul Journe in 1999, the F.P. Journe brand is relatively young, but already is as highly regarded by collectors as many distinguished manufacturers with centuries-old heritage. In the minds of the world's savviest collectors, Journe is producing some of the finest wristwatches the market has ever seen. Mastering his craft from restoring historical timepieces, he was the first to create a wristwatch incorporating two escapements that benefit from the phenomenon of resonance — the Chronomètre à Résonance.
Key models include the Résonance, tourbillon wristwatches incorporating a remontoir and the limited edition Vagabondage series. Especially sought-after are his earliest "souscription" watches, made in 1999.