The
Tourbillon Souverain was the very first production wristwatch from
Montres Journe, originally made between 1999 and 2003, with a
Remontoir d’Egalité; rather than a dead-beat seconds complication. This example, is part of the
Tourbillon Nouveau series (indicated by ‘
TN’ engraving on the caseback), launched in 2004. In the redesign of the series, only the tourbillion cage was kept from the original '
T' models, with all other aspects thoroughly rethought.
The
Tourbillon Souverain is quintessentially an
F.P Journe, in both its design language and movement. Housed in a classical 40mm dress watch case, it is made distinctive by
F.P. Journe’s signature ‘flat crown’ with a rope-like pattern. The rose gold dial is delicately textured, and displays a separate silver guilloché dial for the hours and minutes. The words ‘Invenit et Fecit’ are inscribed below the tourbillon (Latin for “Invented and Made”) - a nod to signing conventions of a century ago. Also inscribed are the words '
avec Seconde Morte', denoting the added dead seconds complication. At 12 o’clock, a power reserve indicator of 42 hours is displayed. Overall, the dial layout is clean and highly legible.
The dead-beat seconds are displayed at 6 o’clock, in place of the
Rementoir d'egalité, from the
reference T. The term ‘Seconde Morte' or ‘dead-beat seconds’, is derived from the way in which the hand remains motionless, until the second has passed.
This manual-winding,
F.P. Journe caliber
1403 tourbillon movement is 18k rose-gold, with
Côtes de Genève embellishments, constructed with 25 jewels and a shock-absorber mechanism. It further features a straight-line lever escapement, and monometallic 4-arm balance with 4 timing weights, adjusted to 5 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring. The movement is engraved 'Chronometre A Tourbillon'.
The earliest works of
François-Paul Journe, effortlessly blend traditional 19th-century watchmaking with modern haute-horology, in perfect harmony. Housed in a 40mm platinum case, this
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain represents a modern take on his original, inspired design.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.
