.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Ice cool glamour and the very best contemporary watchmaking come together in this incredible scintillating entirely diamond-set Tourbillon Souverain reference 'TJ' (Tourbillon Joaillerie). Indeed, words do not do full justice to the magnificence of this extremely rare example of an F. P. Journe haute joaillerie timepiece. The platinum case is set with 93 specially cut and shaped flawless baguette-cut white diamonds with a total weight of 21 carats, the platinum deployant clasp is set with a further 18 flawless baguette-cut diamonds with a total weight of 0.866 carats and furthermore, the dial is set with 201 brilliant-cut diamonds. In all 312 diamonds with a combined weight of over 22 carats of VVS1 clarity and F/G colour are set into this dazzling creation. It is believed that only a handful of precious gem-set Tourbillon Souverain have been produced including two diamond-set versions, an emerald version and possibly an example set with rubies.
What makes this watch so exceptional is that it is made by the manufacture of the greatest living watchmaker – F.P. Journe. Very few gem-set pieces have ever been produced by Journe, whose work combines technical invention and the highest craftsmanship with a perfect aesthetic. This model, the ‘Tourbillon Souverain’ is the one that is arguably Journe’s most famous wristwatch model and still one of the most accurate on the market today. Launched in 1999, it was the first ever tourbillon with a remontoire d’egalité, the first time a remontoire device had ever been used in a wristwatch. The remontoire d’egalité is a mechanism which delivers a constant force throughout the duration of winding, therefore the variable force delivered by the mainspring to the escapement as it unwinds is equalized. The Tourbillon Souverain’s combination of remontoire with tourbillon successfully showcases F. P. Journe's technical and design genius in the creation of a highly complicated modern wristwatch yet one whose roots are firmly in the great horological traditions.
What makes this watch so exceptional is that it is made by the manufacture of the greatest living watchmaker – F.P. Journe. Very few gem-set pieces have ever been produced by Journe, whose work combines technical invention and the highest craftsmanship with a perfect aesthetic. This model, the ‘Tourbillon Souverain’ is the one that is arguably Journe’s most famous wristwatch model and still one of the most accurate on the market today. Launched in 1999, it was the first ever tourbillon with a remontoire d’egalité, the first time a remontoire device had ever been used in a wristwatch. The remontoire d’egalité is a mechanism which delivers a constant force throughout the duration of winding, therefore the variable force delivered by the mainspring to the escapement as it unwinds is equalized. The Tourbillon Souverain’s combination of remontoire with tourbillon successfully showcases F. P. Journe's technical and design genius in the creation of a highly complicated modern wristwatch yet one whose roots are firmly in the great horological traditions.