Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: 2015 Case No: No. 7/38 Model Name: Chronomètre Souverain Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, cal. 1304, 22 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Alligator Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F. P. Journe pin buckle Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Catalogue Essay
The present watch represents a very rare opportunity to own a limited edition F. P. Journe, which was originally sold as part of a collection of five stainless steel timepieces. Released in 2015, the limited edition of 38 complete sets commemorated the end of the manufacturer’s 38mm diameter case production. When F. P. Journe presented his first wristwatches in 1999, the 38mm case was considered oversized during an era when most brands produced smaller timepieces with 34mm to 36mm sized cases. Today, as tastes have changed, cases measuring 40mm to 42mm in diameter have become the new norm.
Each limited edition set was comprised of five timepieces including: Tourbillon Souverain, Chronomètre à Résonance, Octa Automatique, Octa Calendrier Automatique and like the present example the Chronomètre Souverain. All of these models, with the exception of the Chronomètre Souverain, were discontinued and each represented the only version of these models made in stainless steel. Additionally, the pieces featured a gold guilloché dial, patinated in a bronze hue and pink gold movement.
Among them, the Chronomètre Souverain was the most minimalistic, with an outer hour ring, off-set subsidiary seconds dial and 56-hour power reserve, which measured hours since last wound, opposed to the typical hours left on reserve. The prestigious, 18-karat rose gold movement borrowed a design element from marine chronometry using two mainspring barrels. In excellent unpolished condition, the present watch is elegant, contemporary, and exceptionally rare, appealing to collectors of independent modern horological artisans.
Founded by watchmaker François-Paul Journe in 1999, the F.P. Journe brand is relatively young, but already is as highly regarded by collectors as many distinguished manufacturers with centuries-old heritage. In the minds of the world's savviest collectors, Journe is producing some of the finest wristwatches the market has ever seen. Mastering his craft from restoring historical timepieces, he was the first to create a wristwatch incorporating two escapements that benefit from the phenomenon of resonance — the Chronomètre à Résonance.
Key models include the Résonance, tourbillon wristwatches incorporating a remontoir and the limited edition Vagabondage series. Especially sought-after are his earliest "souscription" watches, made in 1999.