This fourth generation Tourbillon Souverain by Franois-Paul Journe represents the earliest incarnation of the watchmaker's first production wristwatch. Produced in 2003 and powered by the brass calibre 1498, it is perhaps the most classic and recognisable configuration of the design, with itsplatinum case and lightly textured yellow gold dial.

The dawn of Montres Journe

Prior to launching his own brand, had already proven his skill as a talented watchmaker. Having spent time restoring clocks and pocket watches from the likes of Janvier and Breguet, he had also completed complex commissions for Asprey and Cartier, among others. In his own time, the young watchmaker had also already assembled a pocket watch integrating a tourbillon, by following the writings of , as well as a handful of prototype wristwatches integrating a tourbillon and remontoir dgalit systems. However, Journe had not yet established his own brand, lacking the capital to do so.

One day, while out to lunch, his friend Camille Berthet suggested a subscription model. The idea was simple; a few trusting clients would have put the money forward for a watch that was yet to be made. In exchange for this good faith, they would receive a 50% reductionon its retail value, allowing the watchmaker to raise just enough money to start the production of pieces under his own eponymous brand. The project behind the was born, with twenty close clients and friends of the watchmaker committing a deposit, sight unseen. These early wristwatches became the foundation of the F.P. Journe manufacture we know today.

An earlyTourbillon Souverain

The Tourbillon Souverain was the very first production wristwatch from Montres Journe, originally made between 1999 and 2003. During that period, it is estimated that less than 500 Tourbillon Souverains were produced with a brass movement, across all configurations, including the 99 pieces from the Ruthenium Collection.

Produced in 2003, this piece belongs to the fourth and final generation of the Tourbillon Souverain, as evidenced by the "20X/03T" engraving on the caseback. It presents a range of other distinctive features, such as thesmaller screws on the dial,flat remontoire cock and deeper caseback engravings. Among the2,000 brass movement F.P. Journe watcheswere ever produced, across all models, is estimated that somewhere between 220 to 320 fourth-generationTourbillon Souverainswere produced, making this example as rare, as it is desirable.

In 2004,Journebegan manufacturing movements from 18-carat gold, having developed the brand sufficiently to further the manufacturing process. Interestingly, it isFranois-Paul Journe's earliest brass-movement pieces which command more interest from collectors.

The quintessential design

The design of theTourbillon Souverain, building on Journes earliestprototypes, has come to define the visual aesthetic of all tourbillons from the manufacture to this very day. The combination of the platinum case and lightly textured yellow gold dial has become synonymous with Franois-Paul Journe,with this example representingwhat manyenvision in their minds when they think of a tourbillon by the watchmaker.This aesthetic was honed by Journe during the creation of the prototypes building up to theTourbillon Souverain, which had the sub-dials screwed directly onto the base plate of the movement, made of traditional gold-plated brass.

The yellow gold dial is lightly textured and displays a separate silver guilloch dial for the hours and minutes. The words Invenit et Fecit are inscribed below the tourbillon (Latin forInvented and Madeor more literally'Designed and built by F.P. Journe') in classicF.P. Journestyle - a nod to signing conventions of a century ago. At 12 oclock, a power reserve indicator of 42 hours is displayed.Overall, the dial layout is clean and highly legible. When held in the sunlight, this piece displays an intensity and shimmer typically only found on the earliest of examples.

The one-second Remontoir d'egalit system is displayed in one of two large apertures on the dial side, providing constant force to the escapement, acting as a transmission and balancing system for the transfer of power between the mainspring and the escapement.The watch is housed in a 38mm platinum case, integrating F.P. Journes signature 'flat crown with a rope-like pattern.

The movement

The manual-winding, F.P. Journe caliber 1498 tourbillon movement is rhodium-plated brass, with Ctes de Genve, constructed with 25 jewels and a shock-absorber mechanism. It further features a straight-line lever escapement, and monometallic 4-arm balance with 4 timing weights, adjusted to 5 positions. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring. The movement is engraved 'Chronometre A Tourbillon' and 'Remontoir d'egalit'.

The Set

The watch is accompanied byits outer cardboard box, inner wooden box, instruction manual and Warranty Card (stamped and dated in April 2004). It is also accompanied by an F.P. Journe servicing receipt from 2018.

It comes on one of our smoked brown nubuck straps(measuring 20 x 19mm), as well as abrown F.P. Journe alligator strap and platinum tang buckle.