Description

Invenit et Fecit – Invented and Made
François-Paul Journe is one of the most respected watchmakers of our time. He is considered to be a link between the 18th century watchmakers and the modern era – a reference he has earned through his work which is a combination of old school horology inventiveness and modern technology, presented as timepieces that are beautifully hand-finished.

In 1983, he completed his first tourbillon pocket watch and in 1991, launched the prototype of his first wristwatch “Tourbillon Souverain”, incorporating a remontoire within a wristwatch for the very first time. The plate, the bridges, as well as the gear-trains were crafted entirely in 18K Gold, which has since become a trademark character of most FP Journe watches.

The watch officially debuted in 1999, along with 2 more timepieces, namely Chronomètre à Résonance and Octa Reserve de Marche. The launches came as an announcement that FP Journe (the brand) has arrived. ‘Montres Journe SA’ was now a registered brand.

Since then, FP Journe has surprised the watch community with several inventions and unconventional timepieces, making him the only three-time winner of the grand title of Aiguille d’Or at GPHG.

He has also won several other awards at this prestigious annual event, including the prize for the Best Men’s Watch for his Chronomètre Souverain launched in 2005.

The Chronomètre Souverain embodies François-Paul Journe’s two trademark characteristics – chronometry and slim profile.

A heavenly match of form and function, it features a 40mm Platinum case which is just 8.6mm thick, with short tapered lugs slightly flowing downwards, adding to its slimness and wearer comfort. The white dial displays the hours/minutes, an off-centered small-seconds register and an unconventional ‘reverse’ power reserve indicator, indicating the time since last full wind. For example, if the hand is at 0, it means it is fully wound and can last up to 56 hours.

It is a ‘Chronometer’ grade timepiece featuring the FP Journe Calibre 1304 where-in ‘13’ represents the size of the caliber in French ligne and ‘04’ is the year when the work on the caliber started.

The visual through the sapphire case back is as beautiful as the dial side, displaying the hand-wound movement, with the plate and bridges crafted in 18K gold, decorated and finished beautifully with Côtes de Genève and perlage, the screw heads are black-polished and the edges, chamfered.

Holding it all together is the black hand-stitched alligator strap with spring-bar release for easy changing of straps and a Platinum pin buckle.

F.P. Journe – Bio

François-Paul Journe was born in Marseille in 1959. An unruly child, he was sent to a local technical college at the age of 14. He went on to graduate from the Paris watchmaking school in 1976.
In 1982, after five years of work, he finished his tourbillon – and it work !
He founded the F.P. Journe company in 1999, have ever since stunned the world year after year with the visually distinctive and technically innovative watches
The motto of the brand, Invenit et Fecit (Latin for “[He] invented it and made it”) denotes that the company builds the entirety of the watches. Journe often designs brand new movements, even inventing completely new systems, like the famous resonance chronometer.