This 40mm, platinum Tourbillon Souverain TN (or Tourbillon Nouveau) is one of the second series of tourbillonwatchesproduced by F.P. Journe. In the 2004 redesign of the series, only the tourbillion cage was kept from the original Tourbillon Souverain, with all other aspects thoroughly rethought. This example comes with its original boxes, booklet and guarantee card, stamped by German retailer Oeding-Erdel.

Tourbillon Nouveau

The earliestpieces wereoriginally made between 1999 and 2003, with a Remontoir dEgalit; rather than a dead-beat seconds complication.This example, is part of the Tourbillon Nouveau series, indicated by "05TN"engraving on the caseback. In later examples of the Tourbillon Nouveau, after approximately the first 150 cases, this designation was changed to no longer feature the "05" portion, in favour of displaying only case number, followed by the "TN". It's a feature which is typically associated withF.P. Journe's earliest wristwatches, often revealing the year in which the case was originally produced, with this TNlikely to be one of the last examples of where it was still used.

ThisTourbillon Souverain is quintessentially an F.P Journe, in both its design language and movement. Housed in a classical40mm dress watch case, it's made distinctive by a number of signatureelementsthroughout. The white gold dial is delicately textured, and displays a separate silver guilloch dial for the hours and minutes. The words Invenit et Fecit are inscribed at 1 o'clock(Latin for Invented and Made or more literally 'Designed and built by F.P. Journe') - a nod to signing conventions of a century ago. Also inscribed are the words 'avec Seconde Morte', denoting the added dead-seconds complication. At 12 oclock, a power reserve indicator of 42 hours is displayed. Overall, the dial layout is well balanced and highly legible.

The natural dead-beat seconds is displayed at 6 oclock, concealing the Rementoir d'egalit,which featured more prominently on earlier models. The term Seconde Morte' or dead-beat seconds, is derived from the way in which the hand remains motionless, until the second has passed.

The Movement

This manual-winding, F.P. Journe caliber1403 tourbillon movement is 18-carat rose gold, with aRementoir d'egalit, 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', decorated withCtes de Genve.

The Set

This F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain TN comes with an original F.P Journe, black alligator strap, a bespoke grey saffiano leather strap with curved ends (measuring 20 x 19mm) and corresponding platinum buckle. It's also accompanied by the original inner and outer boxes, stamped guarantee card and instruction booklet.

Viewings are suspended for the time being .

Closer look