Today, I would like to talk to you about a brand that, over the years, has managed to transcend the sphere of independent watchmakers to become known and respected by watch enthusiasts at large. This brand is F.P. Journe. Before I introduce one of its creations that I had the opportunity to wear, let me first introduce the man behind this brand.
François-Paul Journe was born in Marseille, France, in 1957. Before creating his own brand, François-Paul first obtained his degree from the watchmaking school in Paris in 1976. At the end of his studies, to further perfect his training, he joined his uncle, Michel Journe, in his workshop, restoring antique clocks and watches in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. During his free time, the young master watchmaker developed and entirely conceived, over the course of 7 years, his first tourbillon pocket watch with constant force, inspired by a pocket watch made by George Daniels.
At the same time, the master watchmaker opened his own workshop, where discerning collectors would come to commission unique pieces. One year later, F.P. Journe’s first automatic chronometer pocket watch was completed. It featured a fusée chain, a five-second remontoir, a perpetual retrograde calendar, and an equation of time. Another pocket watch was finished in 1987, this time a planetary pocket watch commissioned by a collector.
In 1989, F.P. Journe established a movement manufacture in Switzerland to become a provider for major watchmaking brands. They eventually settled in Geneva. In 1991, he created his first wristwatch. A few years later, in 1996, he co-founded TIM SA, a manufacture dedicated to developing exclusive calibers.
After four years of development, in 1999, François-Paul Journe launched his brand, F.P. Journe – Invenit et Fecit, with the Tourbillon Souverain with Remontoir d’Égalité. It was the first model of the Souveraine collection and the only wristwatch tourbillon with a constant-force device. A mechanism “Invenit et Fecit” – invented and made – by François-Paul Journe, offering unique chronometric performance. This mention refers to an original conception created exclusively by the finest artisans.
Over the years, F.P. Journe has won numerous awards, including the Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation’s Vocational Award in 1987, the Golden Balance Award at the Madrid Horologists’ Congress in 1989, the Gaia Prize for Best Watchmaker from the L’Homme et le Temps Institute, and the Special Jury Prize.
This Tourbillon Souverain TN (or Tourbillon Nouveau) belongs to the second series of tourbillon watches produced by F.P. Journe from 2003 to 2018. During the redesign of the series in 2004, only the tourbillon cage was retained from the original Tourbillon Souverain, with all other aspects entirely rethought, notably including the remontoir d’égalité and dead seconds. That same year, the Tourbillon Souverain à Seconde Morte won the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Now, let’s look at the details of this model.
What are the characteristics of the F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain?
Case
The F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain features an elegant platinum case with a fully polished finish, a domed bezel, and a flat crown. Measuring 40 mm in diameter and 9.9 mm in thickness, it fits perfectly on my wrist, though I wouldn’t have minded a 38 mm version.
Dial
The F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain has a well-balanced and readable dial that reflects the distinctive identity of F.P. Journe chronometers. The dial is crafted from textured white gold with silver Clous de Paris guilloché hour, minute, and second subdials mounted with a patented steel frame. In addition to the tourbillon and the off-center dial, the 42-hour power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock perfectly balances the independent dead seconds display at 6 o’clock. The words “Invenit et Fecit” are inscribed at 1 o’clock (meaning “Invented and made” in Latin or more literally, “Designed and built by F.P. Journe”), a nod to the signature conventions of a century ago. The words “avec Seconde Morte” are also inscribed, indicating the added dead seconds complication.
Movement
The F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain houses the 1403 tourbillon movement with manual winding. Like all F.P. Journe movements, this caliber is made from 18-carat rose gold. It features a remontoir d’égalité, 25 rubies, and an anti-shock mechanism. It is also equipped with a stop-seconds mechanism, a straight-line anchor escapement, and a four-arm monometallic balance with four timing screws, adjusted to five positions. The movement includes a flat self-compensating hairspring. This 42-hour power reserve movement is engraved “Chronomètre A Tourbillon” and is decorated with Côtes de Genève.
Bracelet
The F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain comes with an original black alligator leather strap from F.P. Journe, with a platinum buckle.
What is the price of the F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain?
When it was still in production, the F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain was priced at €177,400.
F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain: A watch that marked the history of horology
The F.P.Journe Tourbillon Souverain pays tribute to François-Paul’s early clocks and pocket watches. In the end, this is a magnificent watch that brings together all of F.P. Journe’s distinctive elements in a single unconventional design that has stood the test of time. In the eyes of the most discerning collectors, Journe produces some of the finest wristwatches in the market, and I can’t disagree. However, I’m somewhat perplexed by the prices on the gray market, which seem detached from reality. It’s important to buy a watch because of its history and craftsmanship. It’s a shame that today a Journe is often perceived as an investment or speculative object before being appreciated for its craftsmanship and superb execution.
F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain – Watch Specifications
- Brand: F.P. Journe
- Model: Tourbillon Souverain
- Reference: 254-TN
- Case Material: 950 Platinum
- Dial: White Gold and Whitened Guilloché Silver
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Sub-Seconds, Power Reserve Indicator
- Movement: 1403, Manual-Winding, 21’600vph frequency (3Hz), 26 jewels and 193 parts
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Water Resistance: 3 ATM
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Caseback: Sapphire
- Case Dimension: 40 mm (Diameter) × 9.9 mm (Thickness)
- Strap: Alligator Leather with Platinum pin buckle
- Price: €177,400(Excluding VAT)
What do you think of the F.P. Journe case? How do you see this brand in the coming years?
For more information about F.P. Journe, click here.
