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Lot Essay
An extremely exciting and important discovery, this platinum Tourbillon Souverain with pink gold dial is one of the earliest examples of the model to be made following the legendary ‘Souscription’ series and, to the best of our knowledge, it is the earliest second-generation Tourbillon Souverain to be offered at international auction.
In fact, this watch is a fascinating and significant historic piece of the jigsaw in the evolution of the Tourbillon Souverain model itself. Made in 1999, it is numbered ‘No. 27’. Although strictly speaking, this watch comes under the umbrella of the second-generation Tourbillon Souverain, it would perhaps be more accurately classed as a transitional piece, made immediately following on from the first-generation ‘Souscription’ series (numbered 1 to 20) but before the second-generation ‘reference T’ series production watches became available (1999-2003). Early series tourbillons such as this are also distinguished by their case backs. The ‘Souscription’ watches feature hand-engraved lettering, subsequent examples, numbered from 21 onwards (including the present watch No. 27), show shallow case back engravings, with the lettering etched in outline. The caliber 1498 movements of these early Tourbillon Souverain are, in common with all Journe watches until 2004 when the 18k gold caliber 1403 movements were introduced, made of rhodium-plated brass. In recent years, collectors have focused their attention and research on these early series production and pre-production watches with brass movements.
A truly special watch, the present Tourbillon Souverain offers collectors of F.P. Journe and those who pursue the rarest statement timepieces, an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of the earliest second-generation examples known publicly today. Not only a highly significant piece in the early history of one of the most respected and desirable of all modern watchmakers, it also showcases a major first for the contemporary mechanical wristwatch, the remontoir d’égalité. The Tourbillon Souverain, whilst paying homage to the works of the great past masters Abraham-Louis Breguet and of course George Daniels, remains resolutely F.P. Journe’s original conception and realization, an undoubted icon of our age.
Within the 1999 series watches, four dial generations have been identified:
First generation:
'Souscription' series, only 20 pieces made, sold to collectors who paid prior to completion of the watches, as the name indicates. The watches are numbered from 1/20 to 20/20 on the dial and on the case, the dials inscribed only "Invenit et Fecit / F.P. Journe." The cock for the remontoire is rounded.
Second generation:
Reference T, the first watches made as a production series. The dials are signed “Invenit et Fecit / F.P. Journe" and "Remontoir d'Egalité". As with the Souscription watches, the cock for the remontoire is rounded.
Third generation:
Increased size power reserve numerals, almost the same size as the minutes. Flat remontoir cock.
Fourth generation:
This dial type is characterized by smaller dial screws.
Tourbillon Souverain
The ‘Tourbillon Souverain’ is arguably F.P. 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 remontoir d’egalité, the first time a remontoire device had ever been used in a wristwatch. The remontoir 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. François-Paul Journe's ingenious masterpiece - The Tourbillon Souverain, received the ‘Aiguille d’Or’ prize at the Geneva ‘Grand Prix d’Horlogerie’ in 2004. It was also elected watch of the year at the ‘Watch of the Year’ grand prize in Japan in 2004.
In fact, this watch is a fascinating and significant historic piece of the jigsaw in the evolution of the Tourbillon Souverain model itself. Made in 1999, it is numbered ‘No. 27’. Although strictly speaking, this watch comes under the umbrella of the second-generation Tourbillon Souverain, it would perhaps be more accurately classed as a transitional piece, made immediately following on from the first-generation ‘Souscription’ series (numbered 1 to 20) but before the second-generation ‘reference T’ series production watches became available (1999-2003). Early series tourbillons such as this are also distinguished by their case backs. The ‘Souscription’ watches feature hand-engraved lettering, subsequent examples, numbered from 21 onwards (including the present watch No. 27), show shallow case back engravings, with the lettering etched in outline. The caliber 1498 movements of these early Tourbillon Souverain are, in common with all Journe watches until 2004 when the 18k gold caliber 1403 movements were introduced, made of rhodium-plated brass. In recent years, collectors have focused their attention and research on these early series production and pre-production watches with brass movements.
A truly special watch, the present Tourbillon Souverain offers collectors of F.P. Journe and those who pursue the rarest statement timepieces, an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of the earliest second-generation examples known publicly today. Not only a highly significant piece in the early history of one of the most respected and desirable of all modern watchmakers, it also showcases a major first for the contemporary mechanical wristwatch, the remontoir d’égalité. The Tourbillon Souverain, whilst paying homage to the works of the great past masters Abraham-Louis Breguet and of course George Daniels, remains resolutely F.P. Journe’s original conception and realization, an undoubted icon of our age.
Within the 1999 series watches, four dial generations have been identified:
First generation:
'Souscription' series, only 20 pieces made, sold to collectors who paid prior to completion of the watches, as the name indicates. The watches are numbered from 1/20 to 20/20 on the dial and on the case, the dials inscribed only "Invenit et Fecit / F.P. Journe." The cock for the remontoire is rounded.
Second generation:
Reference T, the first watches made as a production series. The dials are signed “Invenit et Fecit / F.P. Journe" and "Remontoir d'Egalité". As with the Souscription watches, the cock for the remontoire is rounded.
Third generation:
Increased size power reserve numerals, almost the same size as the minutes. Flat remontoir cock.
Fourth generation:
This dial type is characterized by smaller dial screws.
Tourbillon Souverain
The ‘Tourbillon Souverain’ is arguably F.P. 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 remontoir d’egalité, the first time a remontoire device had ever been used in a wristwatch. The remontoir 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. François-Paul Journe's ingenious masterpiece - The Tourbillon Souverain, received the ‘Aiguille d’Or’ prize at the Geneva ‘Grand Prix d’Horlogerie’ in 2004. It was also elected watch of the year at the ‘Watch of the Year’ grand prize in Japan in 2004.