This F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain is one of the first seventy tourbillons ever made and sold by the watchmaker, dating back to 2000.Housed in an elusiverose gold case, it featuresa range of distinctive characteristics, only found on the earliest of examples, fromthe mirror-like white gold dial to the characterful two-tone subdial.

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The Tourbillon Souverain was the very first production wristwatch from Montres Journe, originally made between 1999 and 2003. Produced in 2000, this piecewas one of the first seventyTourbillon Souverains made and sold bythe manufacture,as evidenced by the"06X/00T" serial number engraved on the caseback. As such, it reveals physical characteristics only foundon the earliest pieces. This example falls within the third generation of the Tourbillon Souverain, of which only 24 to 44 examples were produced.

In 2004, F.P.Journe began manufacturing movements from rose gold, having developed the brand sufficiently to further the manufacturing process.Interestingly, it is the manufacture'searlier brass-movement pieces that command more interest from collectors, representing the watchmaker's firstbrushstrokes.

The rose gold case

Early F.P. Journe watches are traditionally housedin a platinum case, with very few rose gold examples ever produced. Havingchosenplatinumfor his firstprototypes and the Souscription Tourbillons, it is believed that Journe himself preferred the white metal, with several of his early clients also favouring its versatility.

As such, few rose gold cases have ever leftthe manufacture.In fact, it is estimated that less than 40 brass movement Tourbillon Souverains were produced with a rose gold case and white gold dial.First sold to Portugal in 2001, this example features Portuguese import hallmarks on the top left lug, another unusual characteristic of this piece.

The engravings on the caseback are noticeably shallower than those found on later examples, having been applied by hand - a feature also found on the Souscription Tourbillon. Only the earliest Tourbillon Souverains are believed to feature this distinctive style. Shortly thereafter, Journe transitioned to using a laser to apply these, which results in deeper and more consistent engravings.

The Dial

The white golddial is wonderfully textured and displays a separate silver guilloch sub-dial for the hours and minutes.The dial layout reinforces this artisanal spirit, with exposed screws and stark, contrasting surfaces. This aesthetic was honed by Francois-Paul Journe during the creation of the prototypes building up to the Souscription, which had the sub-dials screwed directly onto the base plate of the movement, made of traditional gold-plated brass. Attwelveoclock, a power reserve indicator of 42 hours is displayed.

With a striking, mirror-like reflective surface and textured finish,this exampleexhibits an intensity only found on the earliest models.Morenoticeably, these early dials also feature a layer of clear lacquer, giving them a distinctively shinier surface, along with the impression that the text on the dial floats above it. Furthermore, this example alsodisplays a characterful two-tone subdial, with a silver outer minute track and subtle, off-white guilloch pattern in the centre.

The one-second remontoir d'egalit system is displayed through a small aperture on the dial side, providing constant force to the escapement, by acting as a transmission and balancing system for the transfer of power between the mainspring and the escapement.

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 comes on our greyleather straps (measuring 20 x 19mm).Having been first sold to Portugal in 2001, this Tourbillon Souverain was then subsequently sold to its second and current owner through the F.P. Journe Patrimoine Service in May 2018.

It is accompanied by an F.P. Journeouter box, inner wooden box, warranty card (subsequently stamped in 2018),cleaning cloth, instruction booklet,teal pouch and USB key. It also comes with aPatrimonie Service Certificate of Origin and F.P. Journe servicing invoice from 2018.