Elite Traveler Winter 2021

81 etr li at ve el WINTE

er R 2021/22

The Astronomic Souveraine watch boasts a minute repeater, tourbillon escapement, moonphase indicator and more on the dial side

The transparent sapphire caseback enables viewing of the 18-karat gold movement, and the disks display the equation of time, sunrise and sunset times, and more

re crafted of aluminium to ensure exceptional durability. Here again, FP Journe is the only manufacture to create aluminium movements for all of its sport watches. Additionally, each FP Journe movement is entirely conceived of, designed and brought to fruition by master watchmaker François-Paul Journe. Then, a single watchmaker works with miniature parts, jeweler’s loupes and tweezers day after day to assemble hundreds of tiny mechanical pieces that in the end must all work together seamlessly, like a perfectly orchestrated dance. The final caliber is engraved with a serial number that indicates which watchmaker built it. Almost every part of the watch is made in house, with Journe always inventing the movements and upholding the highest standards of haute horology. Utmost precision and excellence are hallmarks of every FP Journe watch — hence the slogan: Invenit et Fecit (invented and made). While every FP Journe watch is made according to the same exacting quality levels, no matter how complicated the functions, the Astronomic Souveraine watch is perhaps the most impressive achievement yet. Six years in the making, the grand complication is the culmination of all of the watchmaking feats accomplished by FP Journe. The manually wound movement boasts a tourbillon escapement, minute repeater, sidereal hours and minutes, moonphase indications, annual calendar, equation of time, sunrise and sunset times, and more. It consists of 758 individual parts and 68 jewels. Because it takes four months to build a single watch, the Astronomic is available by order only, and just two or three per year will be made, each retailing for approximately $1 million. movements a lightness and

into just about 900 complex timepieces annually. The mechanical works of art for the wrist are among the most coveted by collectors and, in the rare instance one appears at auction, it typically commands record-setting bids. Not only do all FP Journe watches have superb aesthetics with innovative and complex movements, but they also offer harmoniously balanced proportions and unparalleled craftsmanship — making the brand one of the most celebrated and highly awarded marques. While Journe insists on extraordinary craftsmanship, there are several important signatures that raise FP Journe watches to exceptional status. To begin with, for its classical collections, FP Journe builds its movements out of solid 18-karat rose gold and is the only watch manufacture to create gold calibers for all of its watches (with the exception of the sport watches and the women’s Elegante watches). For the titanium-cased sport watches, the

Above left, from top Creating the perlage motif on movement parts and bridges; a close-up look at the fine Côtes de Genève motif on the mainplate; applying the hand for the seconds subsidiary dial

fpjourne.com