20Σ︎
F.P. Journe
Tourbillon Souverain Second Generation “No. 36/99T”
An exceptional, extremely rare, and important platinum “second generation” tourbillon wristwatch with shiny yellow gold dial, remontoir d’egalité, power reserve indicator, guarantee card, and presentation box
估價
$600,000–1,200,000
製造商
F.P. Journe
年份
1999, Switzerland
錶殼號碼
36 / 99T
型號名稱
Tourbillon Souverain Second Generation “No. 36/99T”
材料
Platinum
機芯
Manual, cal. 1498, 25 jewels
錶帶/ 錶鏈
Crocodile
錶扣
Platinum F.P. Journe pin buckle
尺寸
38mm Diameter
簽名
Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed.
配件
Accompanied by F.P. Journe blank guarantee card, product literature booklet signed by F.P. Journe, fitted 3-part burlwood presentation box, and white cardboard outer box
完整圖錄內容
GOOD TO KNOW
• Extremely rare - one of only 16 “Second Generation” Tourbillon Souverain models ever produced
• Fresh to the market, in the same collection for 21 years
• Nearly identical dial details to the Souscription series
• Thin engravings to the caseback
F.P. Journe’s interpretation of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s masterful invention of the tourbillon has catapulted his creations into the most esteemed and venerable collections worldwide. 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 – with a very different outcome. He sought to fund the acquisition of a workspace in the heart of Geneva where he would be able to finally create watches under his own name, after years of working on projects for other brands. Once again taking after Breguet, he implemented a “Souscription” model: the client would pay a portion up front, without seeing the watch, and Journe would complete and deliver the watch at a later date.
At Baselworld in 1999, Journe officially presented his Tourbillon Souverain, the very first wristwatch tourbillon with a remontoire, which would start him on the path to his present success. Collectors, retailers, and enthusiasts were enamored with Journe’s vision, and through a sprawling global network of retailers, Journe was not only able to establish a workshop, but a reputation as one of the greatest living independent watchmakers.
The present Tourbillon Souverain, an exceptionally rare second generation example with the case number 036/99T, comes from the collection of an important, early enthusiast and patron of the brand, having established a relationship with Journe when inroads were just starting to be made to the United States. A discerning scholar of the brand, he sought earliest production examples across Journe’s catalog that retained complete originality. When he finally found and acquired the present second generation, François-Paul Journe himself personally signed its instruction booklet congratulating him on his acquisition. Further research by the consignor identified the present watch as one of the first four Tourbillon Souverains delivered to the United States in 1999.
TOURBILLON NO. 36
Emblematic of the second generation of the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain’s production, the present Tourbillon No. 36 is a specimen of the highest quality.
Dating from the beginning of the brand’s production, it displays many idiosyncrasies and quirks that fascinate scholars and connoisseurs alike. On the earliest Tourbillons like this, the dial features a much-sought-after shiny texture, with a layer of reflective lacquer on the dial. This allows the text and elements of the dial to appear as if they are floating above the dial itself. At certain angles, a straight line pattern is revealed, evidence of Journe’s personal preparation of the dial before the text was applied, as confirmed to the consignor by Journe himself. The present number 36’s dial is breathtaking - a rich, deep yellow gold with a bronze patina, covered in a highly lacquered finish and displaying multi-dimensional floating graphics.
The characteristics of the second generation Tourbillon Souverain (Ref. T) are as follows:
- 16 total were produced, likely simultaneously with or immediately following the Souscription pieces
- Small-size font for the power reserve indicator identical to the Souscription series
- Rounded remontoir bridge
- Large size screws on the dial
- Addition of “Remontoir d’Egalité” text on dial
- Very shallow caseback engravings
- Very shiny dials with text that appears to float above the dial’s surface
These second generation Tourbillon Souverains can therefore be considered the rarest of all generations produced, even rarer than the souscription series. Accordingly, the present watch is only the second example of a second generation Tourbillon Souverain to appear at public auction at the time of cataloguing based on our research. With all of the coveted second generation dial and case features present, its outstanding state of preservation, and its completeness, Phillips is honored to offer this exceptional Journe “trophy watch” for its next caretaker.
• Extremely rare - one of only 16 “Second Generation” Tourbillon Souverain models ever produced
• Fresh to the market, in the same collection for 21 years
• Nearly identical dial details to the Souscription series
• Thin engravings to the caseback
F.P. Journe’s interpretation of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s masterful invention of the tourbillon has catapulted his creations into the most esteemed and venerable collections worldwide. 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 – with a very different outcome. He sought to fund the acquisition of a workspace in the heart of Geneva where he would be able to finally create watches under his own name, after years of working on projects for other brands. Once again taking after Breguet, he implemented a “Souscription” model: the client would pay a portion up front, without seeing the watch, and Journe would complete and deliver the watch at a later date.
At Baselworld in 1999, Journe officially presented his Tourbillon Souverain, the very first wristwatch tourbillon with a remontoire, which would start him on the path to his present success. Collectors, retailers, and enthusiasts were enamored with Journe’s vision, and through a sprawling global network of retailers, Journe was not only able to establish a workshop, but a reputation as one of the greatest living independent watchmakers.
The present Tourbillon Souverain, an exceptionally rare second generation example with the case number 036/99T, comes from the collection of an important, early enthusiast and patron of the brand, having established a relationship with Journe when inroads were just starting to be made to the United States. A discerning scholar of the brand, he sought earliest production examples across Journe’s catalog that retained complete originality. When he finally found and acquired the present second generation, François-Paul Journe himself personally signed its instruction booklet congratulating him on his acquisition. Further research by the consignor identified the present watch as one of the first four Tourbillon Souverains delivered to the United States in 1999.
TOURBILLON NO. 36
Emblematic of the second generation of the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain’s production, the present Tourbillon No. 36 is a specimen of the highest quality.
Dating from the beginning of the brand’s production, it displays many idiosyncrasies and quirks that fascinate scholars and connoisseurs alike. On the earliest Tourbillons like this, the dial features a much-sought-after shiny texture, with a layer of reflective lacquer on the dial. This allows the text and elements of the dial to appear as if they are floating above the dial itself. At certain angles, a straight line pattern is revealed, evidence of Journe’s personal preparation of the dial before the text was applied, as confirmed to the consignor by Journe himself. The present number 36’s dial is breathtaking - a rich, deep yellow gold with a bronze patina, covered in a highly lacquered finish and displaying multi-dimensional floating graphics.
The characteristics of the second generation Tourbillon Souverain (Ref. T) are as follows:
- 16 total were produced, likely simultaneously with or immediately following the Souscription pieces
- Small-size font for the power reserve indicator identical to the Souscription series
- Rounded remontoir bridge
- Large size screws on the dial
- Addition of “Remontoir d’Egalité” text on dial
- Very shallow caseback engravings
- Very shiny dials with text that appears to float above the dial’s surface
These second generation Tourbillon Souverains can therefore be considered the rarest of all generations produced, even rarer than the souscription series. Accordingly, the present watch is only the second example of a second generation Tourbillon Souverain to appear at public auction at the time of cataloguing based on our research. With all of the coveted second generation dial and case features present, its outstanding state of preservation, and its completeness, Phillips is honored to offer this exceptional Journe “trophy watch” for its next caretaker.
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.