Manufacturer: F.P. Journe
Year: 2001
Case No: 076/01
Model Name: Tourbillon Souverain
Material: Platinum
Calibre: Manual, cal. 1498, 25 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
Clasp/Buckle: Platinum F.P. Journe pin buckle
Dimensions: 38mm Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories: Accompanied by early fitted wooden box, Certificate of Origin, service invoice from 2012 and 2022 and product literature
Catalogue Essay
The present F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain is most certainly one of Journe’s most coveted and rarest creations as it features the ultra-desirable shiny pink gold dial of which only 6 are known.

Fascinated by tourbillon watches, Francois-Paul Journe decided to transpose Abraham-Louis Breguet’s invention into a wristwatch but also to improve it with the addition of a remontoire system - a constant force device used to provide an equal amount of energy regardless of the winding level of the mainspring, resulting in greater accuracy. It was the first time that these innovations had been combined and integrated into a wristwatch.

The first prototype was completed in 1991 with little, if any fanfare from the industry. He revisited his tourbillon wristwatch in 1999 to fund the launch of his eponymous brand as a Souscription series for his first twenty tourbillon wristwatches, each individually numbered on the dial and offered to his close friends and clients.

The early 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.
4th Series (2001-2003) estimated run of 320 examples in platinum and pink gold, with smaller dial screws.

An exceptional specimen even disregarding its mechanical ingenuity, this extremely early and rare example of Journe’s Tourbillon with remontoir d’egalité is numbered 076, dating from 2001.
An extremely small minority of these early tourbillons were fitted with pink "shiny" gold dials, such as the present example, and have highly reflective traits. Scholarship indicates that only six hand-made pink gold dials are known. Finished with a layer of clear lacquer, this allows the printed text to appear as though they were floating over the dial surface – a trait that is prominently featured in this example, where it can almost seem as though one is seeing double. The dial also exhibits subtle stripes that attest to its hand-finished nature.

Furthermore, it exhibits the remarkable sheen and luster found in Journe’s’ earliest dials that is today so coveted by collectors. Such early Journe dials often display beautiful variations of patina as in this example which has never been restored or replaced in any way. It is stunning to behold, especially when viewed under different lighting conditions where it takes on colors ranging from a rosé champagne color to a shimmering copper.

The 6 known examples are numbers 27, 32, 58. 76 (the present example), 82 and 87.

Fresh to the auction market and part of an important private collection for close to 2 decades, the present early Tourbillon Souverain number 076 with an extraordinary pink gold dial, in excellent condition is a direct heir to Journe’s earlies tourbillon wristwatches of the early 90s and a crown jewel to any collection in this configuration.
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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