895Σ︎
F.P. Journe
Tourbillon Souverain, “Chine 2010 38”
An extremely rare, highly coveted and commemorative platinum 38mm diameter wristwatch with tourbillon regulator, deadbeat seconds, remontoir d’égalité, power reserve indication, certificate and presentation box, one of a limited edition of 5 pieces made to commemorate the opening of the F.P. Journe Boutique in Beijing
Estimate
In Excess of HKD7,800,000/ USD 1,000,000
Live 30 May, 12 PM Hong Kong SAR China Time
Manufacturer
F.P. Journe
Year
Circa 2010
Case No
550-TN
Model Name
Tourbillon Souverain, “Chine 2010 38”
Material
Platinum
Calibre
Manual, cal. 1403, 26 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Crocodile
Clasp/Buckle
Platinum F. P. Journe pin buckle
Dimensions
38mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories
Accompanied by F. P. Journe certificate stamped Montre Journe Hong Kong Limited dated 15th June 2010, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know:
- Only known 38mm diameter example in the market
- Limited edition of 5 pieces only
- Made to celebrate the opening of the Beijing Boutique
Interest in F.P. Journe has ignited a fire no independent watchmaker has ever fanned before, blazing far beyond collector hunger or mere horological reverence. Today, François-Paul Journe reigns in an electrifying realm where profound scholarship, jaw-dropping record prices, and genuine cultural stardom collide. The proof pulses not just in the timepieces shattering auction records, but in the stories, legendary provenances, and—more recently—global fascination swirling around the brand, as evidenced by Bloomberg articles highlighting its impressive impact. Its annual production of just shy of 1,000 pieces has left collectors craving them like oxygen.
Thunderous world records and heart-stopping auction results have chronicled the breathtaking ascent of Journe’s creations. From the 1993 Tourbillon à Remontoire d’Égalité No. 15/93—the second wristwatch Journe ever created—which stormed Geneva for a staggering CHF 7.32 million record, to the exquisite 1991 Pendule Sympathique Clock N°1, born from his collaboration with THA for Breguet, which commanded CHF 5.5 million. The fever refused to break as the Régence Circulaire Tourbillon Souverain kissed CHF 1.7 million.
Then came the moment that stopped the watch world cold: Francis Ford Coppola’s one-of-a-kind 2021 FFC Prototype exploded onto the block and hammered down for a total of USD 10.75 million—a world record for any F.P. Journe wristwatch and for any creation by an independent watchmaker. This Hollywood-charged triumph hurled Journe into the stratosphere alongside Rolex and Patek Philippe, forever silencing whispers of “cult favorite.”
François-Paul Journe’s uncompromising vision, unleashed at his defiant 1991 AHCI debut in Baselworld, has forged an empire of pure independence and breathtaking technical brilliance. From the pioneering Souscription Tourbillon and Chronomètre à Résonance to the revolutionary Octa family, Centigraphe, Sonnerie Souveraine, Astronomic Souveraine, and the mind-bending FFC.
Japanese purists were the first to fall under his spell, igniting the 2003 Tokyo boutique in the Omotesando district—the Japanese equivalent of Parisian Saint-Germain-des-Prés—with the first boutique sitting a stone’s throw from the serene Nezu Museum. Fast forward two years, and with surging demand from early supporters, more boutiques began to emerge across the globe. In 2006, the brand set foot in America for the first time with a salon in Boca Raton, Florida, and landed in Hong Kong the same year. This was followed by the inauguration of the boutique salon in Geneva in 2007, Paris in 2008, and New York in 2009. In 2010, the brand opened its doors to its 7th boutique in Beijing, China. The opening of the Journe Boutique in Beijing was an important moment for the firm as it expanded its expertise and exceptional craft to the largest up-and-coming community of collectors in Asia. With a prime location in the Yintaï Centre, it was only a 2-minute walk from Tiananmen Square. Last but not least, the Mayfair London boutique opened its doors in 2023.
The boutique editions that have sprinkled throughout the brand’s lineage are nothing short of legendary among the passionate circle of collectors. Often created as celebratory milestones for new expansions or salon anniversaries, the Tourbillon Souverain TN (Tourbillon Nouveau) is among the most favoured models. Introduced in 2003 in the wake of a new era of Journe innovation, the TN cal. 1403—crafted with an 18K pink gold movement—ushered out the brass movements previously in use. Sized at 14 lignes and developed in 2003 (hence cal. 1403), this new upgrade from the brass cal. 1498 features an integrated seconde morte (deadbeat seconds) within the constant-force mechanism of the Tourbillon Souverain TN. With an estimated 15-year production run, only about 850 examples of the Tourbillon Nouveau were made. Early transitional examples of the model were available in both 38 mm and 40 mm diameter cases. After the smaller case size was discontinued from the catalogue, the 38 mm diameter models came to be considered the origin of F.P. Journe—so important that Journe released a stainless steel 38 mm set of five iconic models, including the Tourbillon Souverain, in 2015 to commemorate its discontinuation.
Daring, bold, and featuring a fiery red lacquered dial with a patriotic twist—five stars echoing China’s flag (representing the five regions of the PRC) as the power reserve indication—this marked the first vibrant red Tourbillon Souverain ever made by the brand: the Chine 2010 edition, created to celebrate the opening of the Beijing boutique.
To our knowledge, only 3 examples from the limited edition of 5 pieces have ever appeared on the market: two sized at 40 mm diameter and only one in 38 mm. Phillips had the pleasure of auctioning two of the five Special China edition Tourbillon Souverains, a 40mm example at The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIV in May 2022 and the present 38mm example at The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVII in November 2023. As far as we are aware, and based on current scholarship, this is the only 38mm among the 5 pieces to have ever appeared on the market.
The present example, the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain“Chine 2010 38”, is the third to surface on the market. Preserved in absolutely stunning condition and accompanied by its original accessories, this “Chine 2010 38” owes its uber-rarity to the astute collector’s specific request for a more elegantly proportioned case. And indeed, it was.
A testament to the importance of the Asian market, a piece of horological art, and the most iconic Journe complicated wristwatch, the present example ticks all the boxes. Phillips is extremely humbled and excited to be entrusted once again to offer this rare and exciting wristwatch at our Hong Kong Watch Auction.
- Only known 38mm diameter example in the market
- Limited edition of 5 pieces only
- Made to celebrate the opening of the Beijing Boutique
Interest in F.P. Journe has ignited a fire no independent watchmaker has ever fanned before, blazing far beyond collector hunger or mere horological reverence. Today, François-Paul Journe reigns in an electrifying realm where profound scholarship, jaw-dropping record prices, and genuine cultural stardom collide. The proof pulses not just in the timepieces shattering auction records, but in the stories, legendary provenances, and—more recently—global fascination swirling around the brand, as evidenced by Bloomberg articles highlighting its impressive impact. Its annual production of just shy of 1,000 pieces has left collectors craving them like oxygen.
Thunderous world records and heart-stopping auction results have chronicled the breathtaking ascent of Journe’s creations. From the 1993 Tourbillon à Remontoire d’Égalité No. 15/93—the second wristwatch Journe ever created—which stormed Geneva for a staggering CHF 7.32 million record, to the exquisite 1991 Pendule Sympathique Clock N°1, born from his collaboration with THA for Breguet, which commanded CHF 5.5 million. The fever refused to break as the Régence Circulaire Tourbillon Souverain kissed CHF 1.7 million.
Then came the moment that stopped the watch world cold: Francis Ford Coppola’s one-of-a-kind 2021 FFC Prototype exploded onto the block and hammered down for a total of USD 10.75 million—a world record for any F.P. Journe wristwatch and for any creation by an independent watchmaker. This Hollywood-charged triumph hurled Journe into the stratosphere alongside Rolex and Patek Philippe, forever silencing whispers of “cult favorite.”
François-Paul Journe’s uncompromising vision, unleashed at his defiant 1991 AHCI debut in Baselworld, has forged an empire of pure independence and breathtaking technical brilliance. From the pioneering Souscription Tourbillon and Chronomètre à Résonance to the revolutionary Octa family, Centigraphe, Sonnerie Souveraine, Astronomic Souveraine, and the mind-bending FFC.
Japanese purists were the first to fall under his spell, igniting the 2003 Tokyo boutique in the Omotesando district—the Japanese equivalent of Parisian Saint-Germain-des-Prés—with the first boutique sitting a stone’s throw from the serene Nezu Museum. Fast forward two years, and with surging demand from early supporters, more boutiques began to emerge across the globe. In 2006, the brand set foot in America for the first time with a salon in Boca Raton, Florida, and landed in Hong Kong the same year. This was followed by the inauguration of the boutique salon in Geneva in 2007, Paris in 2008, and New York in 2009. In 2010, the brand opened its doors to its 7th boutique in Beijing, China. The opening of the Journe Boutique in Beijing was an important moment for the firm as it expanded its expertise and exceptional craft to the largest up-and-coming community of collectors in Asia. With a prime location in the Yintaï Centre, it was only a 2-minute walk from Tiananmen Square. Last but not least, the Mayfair London boutique opened its doors in 2023.
The boutique editions that have sprinkled throughout the brand’s lineage are nothing short of legendary among the passionate circle of collectors. Often created as celebratory milestones for new expansions or salon anniversaries, the Tourbillon Souverain TN (Tourbillon Nouveau) is among the most favoured models. Introduced in 2003 in the wake of a new era of Journe innovation, the TN cal. 1403—crafted with an 18K pink gold movement—ushered out the brass movements previously in use. Sized at 14 lignes and developed in 2003 (hence cal. 1403), this new upgrade from the brass cal. 1498 features an integrated seconde morte (deadbeat seconds) within the constant-force mechanism of the Tourbillon Souverain TN. With an estimated 15-year production run, only about 850 examples of the Tourbillon Nouveau were made. Early transitional examples of the model were available in both 38 mm and 40 mm diameter cases. After the smaller case size was discontinued from the catalogue, the 38 mm diameter models came to be considered the origin of F.P. Journe—so important that Journe released a stainless steel 38 mm set of five iconic models, including the Tourbillon Souverain, in 2015 to commemorate its discontinuation.
Daring, bold, and featuring a fiery red lacquered dial with a patriotic twist—five stars echoing China’s flag (representing the five regions of the PRC) as the power reserve indication—this marked the first vibrant red Tourbillon Souverain ever made by the brand: the Chine 2010 edition, created to celebrate the opening of the Beijing boutique.
To our knowledge, only 3 examples from the limited edition of 5 pieces have ever appeared on the market: two sized at 40 mm diameter and only one in 38 mm. Phillips had the pleasure of auctioning two of the five Special China edition Tourbillon Souverains, a 40mm example at The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIV in May 2022 and the present 38mm example at The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVII in November 2023. As far as we are aware, and based on current scholarship, this is the only 38mm among the 5 pieces to have ever appeared on the market.
The present example, the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain“Chine 2010 38”, is the third to surface on the market. Preserved in absolutely stunning condition and accompanied by its original accessories, this “Chine 2010 38” owes its uber-rarity to the astute collector’s specific request for a more elegantly proportioned case. And indeed, it was.
A testament to the importance of the Asian market, a piece of horological art, and the most iconic Journe complicated wristwatch, the present example ticks all the boxes. Phillips is extremely humbled and excited to be entrusted once again to offer this rare and exciting wristwatch at our Hong Kong Watch Auction.
F.P. Journe
Swiss | 1999Founded 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.