The Horological Art takes on an unprecedented artistic dimension with the exclusive Régence Circulaire dial, made in a limited edition of only 20 pieces.

François-Paul Journe has always been fascinated by the 18th century, which he considers to be the golden age of time measurement. The Régence Circulaire motif, which pays homage to the clockmakers and artisans of the 18th century, was inspired by geometrical motifs of the Regency period.

‍

‍

It takes two days for a Geneva artist to hand- engrave this work of art. The Régence Circulaire motif is first drawn on the raw white gold dial. Then the artist incises the pattern into the metal. Different kinds and shapes of burins are used, which the artist prepares ahead of time so as to be suited to her own personal manner of working and the size of her hands. These tools count among her trade secrets.

After roughing out the grained decoration of the surface and the champlevé areas, the artist begins perfecting the background texture, then giving a final finish to the engraving of the lines.

After two days of painstaking work requiring highly specialised skills as well as great patience and dexterity, the dial, whose tiniest imperfections, visible only under the watchmaker’s loupe, are the signs of a hand created piece, is given over to the expert hands of another artisan, who gives the dial a final polishing that leaves it gleaming.

‍

‍

The F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain with the remontoire or constant force device system, which the brand values since 1983 for its timekeeping performances is enriched with the addition of an independent dead-beat second. This complication, representing a unique feature on a contemporary wristwatch, provides a more accurate read-off of time. The French term for "dead second" (seconde morte) or "dead-beat seconds", stems from the fact that the hand remains motionless ("dead") for as long as the second has not actually elapsed. The hand thus indicates the second once it has actually gone past.

The Tourbillon Souverain is still the most accurate on the market today. This exceptional mechanism in 18K rose Gold, specificity of the brand, reveals its technical performance through the transparent sapphire crystal case-back.

The Tourbillon Souverain with Régence Circulaire hand-engraved dial is housed in an equally noble 40mm case in 18K red Gold. It is available exclusively in the F.P.Journe Boutiques and Espaces.

‍

F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain with Régence Circulaire hand-engraved dial

Technical specifications:

Movement: 

·      Calibre F.P.Journe 1403

·      Movement in 18K rose Gold 

·      Manually wound by 20 turns

Dimensions: 

·      Overall diameter: 32.40mm

·      Cased-up diameter: 32.00mm

·      Overall height: 7.15mm

·      Height of winding stem: 2.53mm

·      Diameter of stem thread: S1.20mm

Balance: 4 inertia weights; Flat Anachron balance spring with Philips overcoil; Pinned stud; Free-sprung; Spring pinned to collet; Frequency: 21'600VPH, 3Hz; Inertia: 11.00mg/cm2; Angle of lift: 52°; Amplitude: 0h dial up: > 280°, 24h dial up: > 280°

Main characteristics: 

·      Tourbillon with constant force and dead seconds

·      2 positions winding crown

·      Manual winding in position 1

·      Time adjustment by crown in position 2

Escapement: 15 tooth escape wheel; 90° anchor fork

Indications: Hours and minutes at 3h00; Sub-seconds at 6h00; Power reserve at 12h00

Power reserve: 42 ± 2 hours

Decoration: Circular stripes on the bridges; Geneva waves on baseplate; Screw heads polished and beveled; Pegs with polished rounded ends

Case: 18K red Gold; Diameter: 40mm; Height: 9.90mm

Dial: 18K white Gold engraved by hand with hour sub dial in Silver guilloché, small second sub dial in Silver, blued Steel hands.

Number of components: Movement: 179; Cased on leather strap: 218; Jewels: 26

The price for the F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain with Régence Circulaire hand-engraved dial is Euro 171,000 and is limited edition to 20 pieces.

For more information visit F.P. Journe Online.