Tourbillon Souverain | Brass Movement | Rose Gold

This Tourbillon Souverain was produced in 2001, the first year of the fourth series of the reference. It features the less frequently seen 38 mm rose gold case, paired with a white gold dial and the brass calibre 1498. It also displays several subtle visual characteristics specific to this production series—details that will be of particular interest to the keen-eyed enthusiast. It stands to reason that F. P. Journe, a student of Abraham-Louis Breguet’s school of watchmaking, would pick the Tourbillon Souverain to be the first wristwatch he ever produced. Created between 1999 and 2003, this watch was produced in four series. This is a piece from the fourth series – examples from this generation are believed to bear serial numbers between 9X/01T and XXX/03T. With serial number XXX/01T, this was produced in the very first year of the series. The cases were produced only in platinum and rose gold, like this example. Measuring an attractive 38mm across, the case bears many details of the fourth series. The slim, 10mm-tall case has a three-part construction – the minimal domed bezel meets a flat midcase. The rim around the display caseback has a rounded profile and is polished. On it are engraved, more deeply than on earlier series examples, details such as the brand mark and motto, precious metal hallmarks, dated serial number, and the name of the line. There is also the Elinor hallmark of the brand’s casemaker at this time. The caseback is secured by the brand’s proprietary Holt screws, which are also a mark of the fourth series. The midcase is home to the flat crown with rope-style knurling. The lugs issue fluidly from the midcase. Their short length and the angle at which they curve down give the watch a compact and comfortable presence on the wrist. The 20mm distance between the lugs is bridged by a large-grained black leather strap secured by a signed rose gold buckle. The white gold dial is lustrous, elegant, and restrained. While it retains the original dial aesthetic, marked by the tourbillon and the time display occupying an equal footprint, it does have several details that distinguish it as a fourth-generation Tourbillon Souverain. Chief among these is the flat remontoir cock and small dial screws. Smaller details, such as the larger power reserve scale and the straight apostrophe in the ‘Remontoir d’Egalite’ printing, are pleasing to the keener-eyed enthusiast. The large bridge, with its rounded, polished top, anchors the one-minute tourbillon. The cage, with its familiar lyre-style form, is well finished. Its counterpart is the time display, with a pure white dial with black printed indices and scales. The central portion wears a clous de Paris pattern. The signature hours and minutes hands, like the one plying the power reserve display, are heat blued. The action of the one-second remontoir whirs with a satisfying mechanical surety. The display caseback offers a full view of the rhodium-plated brass calibre 1498. The full-plate view, interrupted only by the remontoir spring, crown and mainspring wheels, and click spring, is finished with fausses-côtes. The movement features a straight-line lever escapement and a monometallic four-arm balance with four timing weights and is adjusted to five positions, which is the chronometric standard. It includes a self-compensating free-sprung flat balance spring. The movement is engraved with “Chronometre A Tourbillon,” “Remontoir d’Egalité,” and the jewel count (25). This example comes furnished with later certificate paperwork from 2017 as well as outer and inner boxes. The Tourbillon Souverain is the first execution of F. P. Journe’s historically steeped watchmaking philosophy. It is not subject to trend or range. Perfected iteratively and paired with the brass calibre 1498, it remains as relevant and important to the history of fine modern horology as it has always been. If sold within the United Kingdom, this F. P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain - Brass will be subject to 20% VAT Closer look Brand: F. P. Journe Model: Tourbillon Souverain 01T Movement: manual-winding calibre 1498 Functions: hours and minutes, power reserve indicator, Remontoir d’Égalité Features: gold dial with guilloche sub-dial, display back Case material: rose gold Case diameter: 38mm Case thickness: 10mm Lug-to-lug: 45mm Crystal: sapphire front & back Strap: F. P. Journe black alligator strap, F. P. Journe rose gold pin buckle Lug width: 20 x 19mm (curved) Year: 2001 Accompanying materials: F. P. Journe outer box & inner wooden box, certificate of authenticity (signed & dated), polishing cloth Condition This F. P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain 01T is in excellent overall condition. The case and lugs show very light marks throughout, only on the very surface of the material. The dial, hands, and movement are free from any signs of imperfections and have been well preserved. All hallmarks and engravings are crisp and well defined. Warranty The watch comes with a two-year, limited warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.