The
F.P. Journe Sonnerie Souveraine is an incredible accomplishment of design brilliance, horological mastery, and technical know-how. Representing the pinnacle of achievement for striking watches, the grande et petite sonnerie combines a minute repeater with a mechanism which can chime the passing hours and quarter hours, each and every hour in passing. The realization of this extraordinarily difficult and monumentally complex masterpiece in a wristwatch format, with its outstanding functionality, and unique engineering that prevents damage to the strike mechanism through improper operation, reveals the extent to which Francois-Paul Journe has mastered the craft of exceptional watchmaking.
As stated, the grande et petite sonnerie mechanism represents the most difficult type of striking watch for a gifted watchmaker to create. Its immensely intricate mechanism allows the user to select between two strike modes. The first, the Grande Sonnerie ("big strike"), chimes the hours and quarter hours each hour, at every quarter hour. The lesser mode, the Petite Sonnerie ("little strike") involves strikes for the hours, and strikes for the quarters, but the two are not combined. These grande et petite sonnerie mechanisms also possess a minute repeater mechanism, which is activated manually by the user; when a selector piece is activated, the hours sound with low notes, the quarter hours sound with a high-low combination, and the minutes are pealed by individual high notes. However, there is great risk involved with such breathtaking complexity: should one activate of any of these functions when there is insufficient power in the strike mainspring, or interrupt the strike sequence by inadvertently withdrawing the crown, severe -- and extremely expensive ---damage to the mechanism is all but certain to result.
Enter the
F.P. Journe Sonnerie Souveraine watch. For maximum acoustic performance, the 42mm stainless steel case of this timepiece has been crafted from stainless steel, a material deliberately chosen by Journe for its superior properties in this regard as compared to gold or platinum. In the interests of mechanical simplicity, visual elegance and a desire to keep thinness to a minimum, Journe sought to dispense with the oft-employed solution of dual mainspring barrels (whereby one is dedicated to the sonnerie, the other to the movement itself). Instead, the Sonnerie Souveraine utilizes a single mainspring that drives both the strike train and the going train. A sophisticated power reserve indicator is also incorporated, which relies upon a brilliant system of three co-axial differentials that can show the distinct remainder of power in each three modes (silent, petite, or grande sonnerie), according to which is selected. To prevent damage to the sonnerie due to operation when there is insufficient mainspring power to safely complete a striking sequence, the F.P. Journe Sonnerie Souveraine timepiece incorporates an ingenious blocking system that prevents operation of the sonnerie or minute repeater when the power reserve of the movement falls below 24 hours. To address the catastrophic damage that can befall a striking watch if the stem is pulled out during a chime sequence, Francois-Paul Journe has engineered a mechanism that prevents crown withdrawal during strike operation, and conversely, the operation of any strike functions if the crown is in the withdrawn position.
Additional points of interest for this virtuosic watch include a column-wheel governed system to select the modes of strike, enabling optimal operating precision, and a novel system of flat gong springs, which not only offer outstanding acoustic performance and optimal strike volume, but permit a more robust construction than would be the case had traditional circular gong springs been used. As is to be expected in such a masterpiece, the spring is individually adjusted in each watch, by trial and error, until the pitch, tonality, and timbre are deemed ideal.
Ultimately the development and realization of the F.P. Journe Sonnerie Souveraine watch took fully 6 years, with 10 patents being awarded to it. To recapitulate, this watch is a fully-functional, user-friendly grande sonnerie that can be worn on an everyday basis, operated with confidence, and is even water resistant! Over 400 parts reside within the classically appealing steel case, yet overall height is a slender 12mm. A cleanly laid out dial, which balances classicism with idiosyncratic expression, captures the distinctive aesthetic which defines each superb F.P. Journe creation.
As is the case with all F.P. Journe watches, the Sonnerie Souveraine features a movement whose bridges are made from solid gold. Individually crafted only upon order, this very special timepiece is engraved upon its movement and case with the owner's name, for the ultimate in personalization and bespoke exclusivity.