The Watchmaker:

François-Paul Journe was born in rural Provence in 1957. Arguably one of the most innovative, accomplished and prestigious watchmakers of our time, his pieces demand attention from connoisseurs of fine watchmaking throughout the world, and they continually generate unprecedented excitement at auction.

At only 16 years old, F.P. Journe enrolled in the Ecole d’Horolgerie in Marseille and, having completed further studies at the prestigious Ecole d’Horlogerie in Paris, he emerged as a qualified watchmaker in 1976 and continued to develop his skills at his uncle’s Parisian workshop.

In 1978, F.P. Journe, having been inspired by the work some three centuries earlier of Abraham-Louis Breguet, began working on his first unique timepiece, a ‘remontoir’ constant-force tourbillon pocket watch. The finished watch would not emerge until five years had passed, with each component having been designed and painstakingly machined by the young watchmaker in his uncle’s workshop.

In 1999, F.P. Journe introduced his eponymous brand into the independent watchmaking landscape with the first model in his Tourbillon Souverain collection, the only tourbillon wristwatch with remontoir, and a timepiece that remains a horological touchstone for accuracy and precision to this day. As is typical of the inventor, it was revised with the introduction of the Calibre 1403 - the movement which is at the heart of this watch, to incorporate a ‘seconde morte’ or dead beat second, where the second hand comes to a rest between the passing of each second. This evolution, which removed the requirement for a seconds scale on the tourbillon aperture, placing it upon its own small seconds subdial on the lower sector, resulted in a clean and symmetrical arrangement wherein perfect equipoise is achieved on the façade, heightening the visual pleasure of the distinctive F.P. Journe frame that is screwed onto the main dial and which holds the dial indications. For this special piece, the layout has a particularly aesthetically pleasing effect against the elaborate hand-engraved 18ct rose gold surface. 

The Watch:

Boasting a rarely seen dial, only 10 examples of the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain 40mm Platinum watch with Rose Gold Régence Losange Dial were ever made.

Exhibiting astounding depth and beauty, the resplendent dial is crafted from 18ct rose gold and is decorated with a ‘Losange’ pattern, achieved entirely by hand using traditional engraving techniques.  While this edition is limited to only 10 pieces, due to the hand-crafting used to create the dials, no two will be alike, ensuring one-of-a-kind uniqueness that elevates the exclusive status of the watch further still. Evoking a mesmerising effect as it catches the light, the artisanship is superb, displaying deep relief engraving interspersed with repeating Losange or diamond shape forms.

The indications bear the signature styling of F.P. Journe, with each held within its own steel circle screwed onto the face, a patented feature that is now instantly recognisable to the seasoned collector. Wonderfully balanced throughout, the arc shaped power reserve at the 12 o’clock forms an alliance with the seconds subdial at the six, while the dial for the hours and minutes is positioned at the three o’clock and is fitted with delightful blued steel Journe hands upon its guilloché centre.  The maker’s Invenit et Fecit (Invented and Created) philosophy which adorns the dial of each of the watches that leave his Manufacture, is placed at the upper periphery of the dial, while engraved on a plaque at the lower, “Remontoir d’Egalité avec Seconde Morte’ is a pronouncement of the technical mastery of the model.

Since his first handmade piece, the tourbillon has been part of the story of F.P. Journe and, displayed within a perfectly proportioned aperture on the left side dial of the Tourbillon Souverain 40mm Platinum model, and clasped beneath a half bridge, it is a thing of extraordinary beauty. Meticulous black polishing enhances its cage, and on closer inspection one can view the motion of the free-sprung balance, and also the overcoil hairspring. Just beneath, the 18ct rose gold plates and bridges form a radiant backdrop as the eye is drawn deeper into the movement.

The rounded 40mm case is manufactured from platinum, and it has a polished finish, a neatly tucked in and knurled crown, while the gently curving lugs ensure an ergonomic  wear. On turning over, the architecture of the 18ct rose gold Calibre 1403 is revealed through sapphire crystal.

In his pursuit of accuracy and amplitude perfection, F.P. Journe invented his own remontoir constant-force mechanism, in order to regulate the power to the tourbillon escapement, ensuring that the balance within the tourbillon maintains a stable rate, which results in optimum stability almost to the completion of the 42 hours of power reserve. Revealed through an aperture in the mainplate, its mechanism and slender titanium lever spring can be appreciated, while elsewhere the immaculate Haute Horlogerie hand anglage and Côtes de Genève decoration are glorious.    

This F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain Platinum Manual 40mm Rose Gold Régence watch with Losange Dial is presented upon a hand-crafted lime green leather strap secured with a platinum pin buckle.