F.P. Journe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII Geneva Friday, November 3, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: F.P. Journe
    Year: Circa 2002
    Case No: 179-02T
    Model Name: Tourbillon Souverain
    Material: 18k pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 1498, 25 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k pink gold F.P. Journe pin buckle
    Dimensions: 38mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Journe fitted box, Warranty card, user manual, travel pouch and service invoice from 2022

  • Catalogue Essay

    Numerous articles have been written about the works of François-Paul Journe, his creations disected, catalogued and compiled. His rarest creations have either been published, exhibited or offered at auction. It is therefore with an intense sense of exhilaration that we have discovered an early Tourbillon Souverain in a case dial combination that had not been previously seen on the market: pink gold case with pink dial giving the watch an incredibly striking flamboyant allure.

    The Tourbillon along with the Chronomètre à Resonance have now become Journe's signature pieces.

    The Tourbillon Souverain was Journe’s very first model made in series. He completed his first tourbillon wristwatch, Tourbillon No. 1, in 1991, to little if any fanfare from the industry. He revisited his tourbillon wristwatch in 1999 to fund the launch of his own eponymous brand, taking after Breguet by offering a “Souscription” series: the client would pay a portion up front, without seeing the watch, and Journe would complete and deliver it at a later date. Non-content to create a horological masterpiece Journe set out to improve Breguet’s invention via the addition of a remontoir system - a constant force device used to provide an equal amount of energy disregarding the winding level of the mainspring, thus resulting in greater accuracy and amplitude. This was the very first time this system, invented by John Harrison for the H2 marine chronometer, was ever used in a wristwatch.

    The 1st generation Tourbillon Souverain models with brass movements like the present example can be split into four series:
    1st Series - Souscription (1999) 20 numbered examples in platinum
    2nd Series (1999) estimated run of 17 examples in platinum with rounded remontoir bridge and addition of “Remontoir d’Egalité” on the dial
    3rd Series (1999-2001) estimated run of 60 examples in platinum and pink gold, with flat remontoir bridge and larger power reserve numerals, pink dials were first introduced here.
    4th Series (2001-2003) estimated run of 320 examples in platinum and pink gold, with smaller dial screws.

    Even though the present watch is from the fourth series made between 2001-2003 it features the distinctive large dial screws found on the third series (1999-2001) leading us to believe that the present example could well be a transitional model.

    The present example ,- fresh to the market and from the original owner- is an exceptional specimen even disregarding its mechanical ingenuity as it is - to the best of our research, the very first Tourbillon Souverain in pink gold with pink dial to grace the auction market with the large dial screws adding to the mystery and intrigue.

  • Artist Biography

    F.P. Journe

    Swiss • 1999

    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.

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Σ147

An intriguing and visually striking pink gold tourbillon wristwatch with remontoir d’egalité, pink dial, brass movement with warranty and box

Circa 2002
38mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF180,000 - 360,000 
€187,000-374,000
$198,000-396,000

Sold for CHF406,400

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

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The Geneva Watch Auction: XVIII

Geneva Auction 3 - 4 November 2023