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Lot Essay
Only available to collectors upon application, this extraordinary steel Chronomètre Souverain, the only variant of the model not to feature a small seconds, is part of one of two small series manufactured in 2017 and 2018 with dials made from the rare Damascus steel barrels of two antique Holland & Holland guns. These dials, each with a unique pattern created during the original manufacture process of the Damascus barrels cannot exist in any other watch and are therefore both individually unique and truly unrepeatable. The two barrels were registered in Holland & Holland’s ledgers as ‘Barrel No. 1382’, dating to 1868, this barrel yielded 38 dials (including the present watch), and ‘barrel No. 7183’, dating to 1882, yielded 28 dials.
The creation of this special Holland & Holland Chronomètre Souverain was a true and meaningful collaboration between one of the world’s greatest gunmakers and the most revered of contemporary watchmakers. The two companies share the values of matchless craftsmanship, excellence and a profound understanding of aesthetic beauty. The idea germinated during a visit by F.P. Journe to the former boutique in New York. He knew that many U.S clients enjoyed shooting and, being acquainted with the Wertheimer brothers, then owners of Holland & Holland, it became clear that making a timepiece in partnership with this historic firm of gunmakers offered the chance to create something both fascinating and unique in haute horology and at the same time showcasing traditional artisan manufacturing techniques of the past. The idea to use the historic gun barrels to make dials occurred to F.P. Journe during a factory visit to Holland & Holland.
Although F.P. Journe relished the challenge of creating dials from Holland & Holland’s historic gun barrels, the actual manufacture of the dials proved to be quite a complex challenge in order to meet his expectation of perfection. Once the first stage of preparation to flatten, reduce and cut the barrels into pieces of the required size was done by Holland & Holland, the material was sent to “Les Cadraniers de Genève” F.P.Journe’s own dial makers, where the dials were cut to shape. They were then sent back to Holland & Holland and “browned”, a traditional gun-making technique that helps to protect the steel and at the same time highlights the wonderful patterns created during the original manufacture of Damascus barrels. The ‘browning’ process has remained unchanged from the 1800s to the present day. Interestingly and ingeniously, in order to ensure the natural patterns of the dial were ideally positioned to provide the maximum esthetical impact, each dial was rotated to its optimum position before being fixed. Because no two dials were in the same exact position, F.P. Journe therefore chose not to include a small seconds feature. Adding a further layer of individuality and wonderful craftsmanship, the 18K rose gold movement is decorated with Holland & Holland engraving.
Holland & Holland
Founded in 1835, Holland & Holland is one of the most respected British gunmakers and clothing retailers based in London, England, offering handmade sporting rifles and shotguns. The company holds two Royal Warrants. There is great demand for their bespoke hand-built guns with luxury engraving and subsequently a waiting period of 2–3 years between ordering and delivery is not uncommon.
The creation of this special Holland & Holland Chronomètre Souverain was a true and meaningful collaboration between one of the world’s greatest gunmakers and the most revered of contemporary watchmakers. The two companies share the values of matchless craftsmanship, excellence and a profound understanding of aesthetic beauty. The idea germinated during a visit by F.P. Journe to the former boutique in New York. He knew that many U.S clients enjoyed shooting and, being acquainted with the Wertheimer brothers, then owners of Holland & Holland, it became clear that making a timepiece in partnership with this historic firm of gunmakers offered the chance to create something both fascinating and unique in haute horology and at the same time showcasing traditional artisan manufacturing techniques of the past. The idea to use the historic gun barrels to make dials occurred to F.P. Journe during a factory visit to Holland & Holland.
Although F.P. Journe relished the challenge of creating dials from Holland & Holland’s historic gun barrels, the actual manufacture of the dials proved to be quite a complex challenge in order to meet his expectation of perfection. Once the first stage of preparation to flatten, reduce and cut the barrels into pieces of the required size was done by Holland & Holland, the material was sent to “Les Cadraniers de Genève” F.P.Journe’s own dial makers, where the dials were cut to shape. They were then sent back to Holland & Holland and “browned”, a traditional gun-making technique that helps to protect the steel and at the same time highlights the wonderful patterns created during the original manufacture of Damascus barrels. The ‘browning’ process has remained unchanged from the 1800s to the present day. Interestingly and ingeniously, in order to ensure the natural patterns of the dial were ideally positioned to provide the maximum esthetical impact, each dial was rotated to its optimum position before being fixed. Because no two dials were in the same exact position, F.P. Journe therefore chose not to include a small seconds feature. Adding a further layer of individuality and wonderful craftsmanship, the 18K rose gold movement is decorated with Holland & Holland engraving.
Holland & Holland
Founded in 1835, Holland & Holland is one of the most respected British gunmakers and clothing retailers based in London, England, offering handmade sporting rifles and shotguns. The company holds two Royal Warrants. There is great demand for their bespoke hand-built guns with luxury engraving and subsequently a waiting period of 2–3 years between ordering and delivery is not uncommon.