Deciphering The Glorious FP Journe Astronomic Souveraine

The FP Journe Astronomic Souveraine is a sophisticated watch initially unveiled in 2019 as a result of the Astronomic Bluea one-of-a-kind (prototype) watch created for the biannual Solely Watch public sale fundraiser supporting muscular dystrophy evaluation. This excellent timepiece crafted in tantalum with a placing blue dial fetched a staggering CHF 1.8 million. Later that 12 months, F.P. Journe launched restricted parts of a steel-cased manufacturing model, which rigorously resembled the Solely Watch mannequin, albeit with some variations in dial colours, design, and movement decoration. Permit us to share our present encounter with this extraordinary horological creation.

The Astronomic Souveraine is an actual grand complication, boasting an array of 18 options and points. Amongst its spectacular choices are a minute repeater, moon part present, sidereal time indication, day and night time time indicator, daybreak and sunset indications, vitality reserve indicator, annual calendar, and equation of time. All of these superior mechanisms are enclosed inside a spherical case that measures 44mm in diameter and 13.7mm in thickness. It seems large nonetheless stays extraordinarily wearable and smaller than totally different grand complication timepieces of our time. For comparability, take the self-winding Code 11.59 Universelle from AP, which supplies 40 options and points, along with Grande and Petite Sonnerie, and measures 42mm x 15.55mm. And this watch is a miniaturised feat of vitality…

The Astronomic Souveraine’s classical case design, expertly crafted from stainless-steel, enhances the effectivity of the minute repeater, which could possibly be activated using the lever on the upper left side of the watch. With three attainable positions, the crown models the entire watch’s options, presenting a user-friendly decision with no inset pushers. Nonetheless, it’s vital to acquaint oneself with the information to fully acknowledge the Astronomic Souveraine, as a result of the watch doesn’t possess the intuitive design of an iPhone. Warning and adherence to the instructions are instructed when making adjustments.

Whereas the dial showcases a plethora of indications, it sticks to the attribute F.P. Journe design guidelines – intelligent format and meticulous order. A really highly effective options are displayed on the doorway, with some on the once more too. A central blued steel hand and the chapter ring cope with the minutes. Positioned on the left side, a 24-hour sub-dial presents sidereal time – a measurement based totally on the Earth’s rotation relative to the celebrities, resulting in a day-after-day lack of roughly 4 minutes as compared with our photograph voltaic time. On the proper side, a 12-hour present reveals photograph voltaic hours (the minutes hand is central, like these found on a regulator watch) and the hours of a second time zone indicated by an extra hand. Please remember that the meantime gilt hand stays hid beneath the second time zone hour hand (as in our photos) when this travelling carry out isn’t in use.

The sidereal time and photograph voltaic hour sub-dials boast whitened silver surfaces adorned with a Clous de Paris pattern. Positioned on the lower correct, an aperture showcases the moon part with a painstakingly wise illustration of the Moon. This window is counterbalanced by a similar aperture on the left, revealing a working dead-beat seconds disc. These two sub-dials, moon part and working seconds, are affixed to the precept dial using a signature FPJ design attribute – a classy screwed steel ring. As a result of the manually wound Astronomic Souveraine offers an affect reserve of spherical 40 hours, a helpful indicator resides at 6 o’clock.

Ending the dial’s symmetrical affiliation is an aperture at 12 o’clock, displaying the daybreak and sunset events. The sliding shutters on each end of the aperture provide insights into the remaining daytime and the timing of the approaching daybreak or sunset. Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that fully totally different areas, even all through the same time zone, might experience numerous daybreak/sunset events. For actual data, consulting an appropriate app or specifying your hottest location when ordering the Astronomic Souveraine is admittedly useful; you may get a form of right learning in your hometown.

In distinction to its early predecessor, the Astronomic Blue model, this Astronomic Souveraine’s dial not marks the presence of the tourbillon and minute repeater options on the bottom. As an alternative, the Galileo Galilei model showcases the F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit model on the bottom and the model establish Astronomic above the centre of the dial.

The once more of the Astronomic Souveraine exhibits the annual calendar on the transferring outer ring with zodiacs, date and month sections, and the equation of time by means of the centrally mounted hand. Moreover seen is part of the extraordinarily superior 758-component manually wound calibre 1619 in 18k rose gold, with its share of polished steel parts for distinction. The movement is embellished with spherical waves on the bridges, the baseplate is circular-grained, and the polished screw heads with chamfered slots add to the great thing about the movement presentation. For technical choices, remember the remontoir d’égalité and 60 seconds tourbillon that work to ship distinctive chronometric effectivity, a pursuit F.P. Journe prioritises with each timepiece.

The caseback of the Astronomic Souveraine holds every seen entice and wise significance for working the watch. The setting course of commences with the calendar, requiring the wearer to face the caseback initially. Nonetheless, sooner than persevering with to set the date by pulling the crown out to position 2 and turning it clockwise, it is important to make it possible for the photo voltaic is seen. Setting the date should not be carried out between 10 at night time time and 4 inside the morning. The an identical guideline applies to adjusting the moon part, accomplished within the an identical crown place nonetheless with anti-clockwise turns. Following the sequence, one ought to control the calendar after which the time (crown place 3, anti-clockwise turns) and subsequently regulate the moon part. Luckily, the other indications will synchronise taking the correct positions, along with the daybreak and sunset events, equation of time, and sidereal hours, counting on the hour and date.

Given its fairly a number of enchanting however not – by modern necessities – completely wise points, the F.P. Journe Astronomic Souveraine, beginning with its Solely Watch prototype, incorporates a helpful attribute: a easy strap change mechanism. The watch has a black alligator strap, which reinforces the final aesthetic impeccably; it is laborious to consider something.

Astronomic Souveraine is undoubtedly a collector’s timepiece, nonetheless it moreover wears comfortably, commanding consideration wherever it goes. If in case you might have the means (about one million), making space for the Astronomic Souveraine in your assortment might be worth considering. Nonetheless, for this money, it may be good to have built-in safety choices for unintentional violation of the adjustment tips, and a self-winding system, possibly with a micro-rotor. And presumably fully totally different colours for the photograph voltaic time hour arms, distinguishing the second time zone hand. Nonetheless these may be very wise additions, and F.P. Journe Astronomic Souveraine is barely partially about it.

For additional data, please go to www.fpjourne.com.