F. P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain, Boutique Edition, Red Gold

Housed in a classical 40 mm dress watch case, it is made distinctive by F.P. Journe’s signature ‘flat crown’ with a rope-like pattern. The black dial is engine turned in the centre with a hobnail, Clous de Paris pattern, while the outer track holds the red-gold, embossed decorative Arabic numerals. The signature F.P. Journe style hands form a nice contrast to the black dial. Between seven and eight o’clock is a subsidiary seconds and at three o’clock is a power reserve indicator of 56 hours. Overall, the dial layout is cleanly designed and excellently legible.

An interesting aspect of this timepiece lies in the power reserve, as when winding, instead of the indicator heading from 0-56, it goes the other way towards 0. This was deliberate choice by F.P. Journe, who took inspiration from marine chronometer clocks. The reasoning behind this lies in the idea that the power reserve indicator on a Chronomètre Souverain is not meant to tell you how many hours there are left, but instead how many hours have passed since you wound the watch.

While this piece is undeniably attractive, it is the movement that F.P. Journe is famed for. It is certainly independent haute horlogerie at its finest, as the in house, Calibre 1304 is made entirely of 18k rose gold seen through the sapphire caseback. The movement has two mainspring barrels in parallel, which work together, powering the movement. Most impressively, is the chronometric balance fitted into the movement, which helps to provide the accuracy that F.P. Journe has based his watchmaking around. The hand-finishing is expertly conducted, mixing a combination of circular graining with sunburst and wave patterns. All screw heads are polished and all edges neatly chamfered with a Côte de Genève motif on the bridges.

Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.

Closer look

Brand:	F. P. Journe
Model:	Chronomètre Souverain Boutique Edition
Movement:	mechanical manual-winding Cal.1304
Functions:	time-only: hours, minutes, sub-seconds
Features:	power reserve indicator, guilloche black dial, display-back
Case:	40 mm 18-carat red-gold
Crystal:	sapphire front and back
Bracelet:	brown alligator strap from F. P. Journe with red-gold tang buckle
Lug/buckle width:	20/19mm
Year:	2017
Box & papers:	full set - box, warranty card and USB manual

This boutique edition, red gold F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain is from 2017, in excellent condition and has perfect mechanical functionality. The watch comes on a brown alligator strap from F. P. Journe with corresponding red-gold tang buckle.