our
years ago, François-Paul Journe launched the F.P. Journe – Invenit
et Fecit brand with his Tourbillon Souverain, the first model in the Souverain
collection and the only tourbillon wristwatch with a constant force device.
A mechanism “invenit et fecit”
– “invented and made” – by François-Paul Journe,
provided unique timekeeping performances for this tourbillon, which is still
the most accurate on the market today.
Driven by his thirst for timekeeping excellence
and fulfillment of his creative needs, François-Paul Journe now presents
the new generation of the Tourbillon Souverain, in the form of the:
This model replaces
the existing Tourbillon Souverain with remontoir and places the latter in
the category of collector’s watches. The fact that production of this
first tourbillon model has been limited to just a few hundred confers on it
rare and highly sought-after status.
The new Tourbillon Souverain is endowed with
the aesthetic characteristics and technical demands inherent to creations
by F.P. Journe – Invenit et Fecit. Its mechanism uses the remontoir,
or constant force device system, which the brand values for its timekeeping
performances, and has now been enriched with an independent seconds system.
This complication, representing a unique feature on a contemporary wristwatch,
provides a more accurate read-off of time. The French term for “independent
seconds”, called “seconde morte” or “dead seconds”,
stems from the fact that the hand remains motionless (“dead”)
for as long as the second has not actually elapsed, which means the hand thus
indicates the second only after it is completed.
In the words of Osvaldo Patrizzi: “Throughout
the passage of time, millions of pages have been written by philosophers on
reflections and anecdotes relating to the concept of time. This “dead
second” watch gives me the strong impression of stopping time. Its mechanism
moves the seconds hand from one second to the other, after a pause of 9/10ths
of a second; the hand moves with grace and precision in such a way as to create
the illusion of stopping time. It succeeds in holding time for an instant,
then time escapes, speeding towards the next instant, then it attempts to
once again stop the annoying cadence, and seemingly almost succeeds, as it
escapes again, and so on for minutes then hours for ever. I view this “stop
and go” as an action full of concealed philosophical messages.”
This exceptional mechanism
in 18 carat red gold, is housed in an equally noble 40 mm case in platinum.
The beauty and sophistication of this technical and aesthetic feat of workmanship
are revealed through the transparent sapphire crystal case-back.
The dial features the distinctive identity of
the F.P. Journe chronometers with the 18 carat red or white gold dial and
guilloché silver hour, minute and seconds circles screwed to the watch
face (a patented feature). The 42-hour power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock,
perfectly counter-balances the independent seconds display at 6 o’clock.
Version with red gold case. Leather strap with
platinum or gold pin buckle, or platinum or gold bracelet with platinum or
gold folding clasp.
