Description

The history of F.P. Journe goes hand in hand with the story of the Tourbillon collection because his first pocketwatch he made took him 5 years, it had a tourbillon and spring detent escapement, that was back in 1983.
After a few years, in 1991 the first F.P. Journe wristwatch was born, it was a tourbillon with a remontoir d’égalité (constant force device), initially he proposed it to a few big brands but nothing really materialised.
From 1996 he started to develop high end calibers for famous watch brands but was fed up to give, quote : “pearls to swines”, he decided in 1999 to raise money to make his first 20 Tourbillon watches, called : Tourbillon Souverain Souscription.   20 collectors paid 50% to get an individually numbered piece.

The current generation of “Tourbillon Souverain” that we know, was made in two major references, the “T” from 1999 to 2004, made in a 38mm case either platinum or rose gold with brass movement, a few limited pieces in ruthenium were made also.
And then from 2004 to 2018 we have the current “TN” reference with Remontoir and “Natural Dead Seconds” complication made in 38 and 40mm, also in platinum and rose gold cases but the movement is in rose gold.   The watch won the 2004 Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève’s award of “Aiguille d’Or”.

In 2013, to mark its 30th anniversary of his first tourbillon pocketwatch, he made a limited run of 99 pieces for its most loyal customers, called the Tourbillon Historique (reference T30) with a case made in silver & gold and movement in brass.
The same year a limited edition of 10 pieces called the “T10” to commermorate a decade of Journe’s first Tokyo boutique and the opening of his 10th Beirut boutique.  Almost identical to the “T30” but with a platinum case and black and white, and the caliber rose gold.

2015 saw the release of a special 38mm – a 5 watches set in steel which had a tourbillon model also.
Just before discontinuing the “Tourbillon Nouveau”, around twenty pieces were made for VIP collectors featuring a mesmerising ruby dial.

To mark the Tourbillon’s 20th Anniversary in 2019, F.P. Journe introduced a new model called “Tourbillon Souverain  Vertical”, 42mm case in platinum and rose gold.  The tourbillon cage is unlike the traditional horizontal one, placed vertically for a constant tourbillon function whether the watch lies flat or is placed on its side.
The tourbillon makes a revolution in 30 seconds, twice faster than its predecessor and therefore visually the effect is astonishing.

When introduced in 1999, the Tourbillon Sourverain was the first serial production watch by F.P. Journe.

The present model is from the first series, it was produced from 1999 – 2003, and features a majestic tourbillon along with the Remontoir d’Egalité constant force mechanism, this 38mm platinum beauty features a white gold and whitened guilloché silver dial with the hours/minutes display on a guilloche dial one side, and a Tourbillon cage balancing it on the other side, with the seconds sub-dial below, forming a beautiful symmetry. At the top is the 42-hr power reserve indicator.

Seen through the sapphire case back is the incredibly gorgeous F. P. Journe Caliber 1498 manual-winding, tourbillon movement with a shock-absorber mechanism. The detailed finish on each part of the movement is impeccable, decorated with Côtes de Genève pattern in the most desirable material for FPJ collectors; its movement is made in Brass, all earliest examples feature this configuration.

Lets go back to the face of the watch to enjoy subtle details such as the blued steel hands and the light grainy grey dial texture so pleasing to the eye as well as the small visible screws on the dial.

The watch we are offering here is in very good condition, produced in 2003 according to the serial on the case back, it is fitted on a grey alligator strap with a matching platinum tang buckle and accompanied by the original warranty card and box.

It is FP Journe’s signature timepiece, the Tourbillon defines Mr Journe’s mastery in watchmaking and this early reference is certainly the must in any discerning collection.

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.