The Astronomic Souveraine is not merely a grand complication — it is a fully integrated celestial instrument built on a forgotten truth: that by charting the stars, we once understood time and direction.
In typical F.P.Journe fashion, this mechanical marvel does not chase spectacle. It invites contemplation. It celebrates Time in all its expressions — civil, sidereal, solar — and reveals its choreography in a case just 44 mm wide.
The genesis of the Astronomic Souveraine lies not in a lab, but in a discarded adolescent sketch. Fifteen years ago, Charles Journe — son of François-Paul — drew an imaginary watch with a sun-tracking aperture. He dismissed it. His father didn’t.
That sketch evolved into a six-year horological pursuit that saw multiple concept revisions, including a brief temptation to build it as a self-winding piece. Eventually, the answer was clear: a manually-wound calibre would offer far greater control — and the energy needed to support a tourbillon, a minute repeater, and 16 other complications.
At the heart of the Astronomic Souveraine beats the Calibre 1619 — a manually wound movement constructed in 18K rose gold, containing 758 components and 68 jewels.
Movement & Technical Specifications
| Component | Specification | Component | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calibre | 1619 (manual, 34 crown turns) | Material | 18K Rose Gold |
| Power Reserve | 40 hours | Jewels | 68 |
| Case Diameter | 44 mm | Case Height | 13.80 mm |
| Movement Parts | 758 | Total Parts (with strap) | 817 |
| Overall Diameter | 37.00 mm | Casing Diameter | 36.40 mm |
| Movement Height | 9.30 mm | Stem Height | 4.59 mm |
| Stem Thread Diameter | S1.20 mm | Case Material | Steel |
| Balance | 4 inertia weights, free-sprung | Spring | Breguet Anachron |
| Studs | Pinned & GE stud | Collet | Nivatronic, laser-welded |
| Escapement | 15-tooth wheel, 90° anchor fork | Frequency | 21,600 vph (3 Hz) |
| Inertia | 11.00 mg·cm² | Lift Angle | 52° |
| Amplitude (0h dial up) | >260° | Amplitude (24h vertical) | >260° |
| Finishing | Circular waves on bridges, Partly circular-grained baseplate, Polished screw heads with chamfered slots, Pegs with polished rounded ends | ||
Power is drawn from twin barrels, regulated by a remontoir d’égalité (a constant-force mechanism), and kept precise by a tourbillon. These technical choices aren’t ornamental. They exist to guarantee isochronism — consistent rate behavior regardless of the watch’s energy state.
The result is a mechanical landscape where everything — from the visible deadbeat seconds to the cosmic sidereal time — plays its role in harmony.
Dial Layout – Indication by Position
| Component | Description | Component | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridges | Circular Geneva waves | Plates | Grained for texture and reflection control |
| Screws | Polished and chamfered to prevent fatigue | Balance Spring | Laser-welded for precise oscillation |
| While hidden to most eyes, these finishing decisions reflect F.P.Journe’s belief that a movement’s soul lies in what others don’t see. | |||
Few watches attempt to do as much. Fewer still manage to make that ambition feel purposeful. The Astronomic Souveraine is not a collector’s stunt or a boutique fantasy — it is an instrument of time, made to be worn, studied, and lived with.
By uniting complications once found only in observatory clocks and scientific pocket watches, F.P.Journe brings the sky back to the wrist — and in doing so, honors a lineage of horological thought stretching back to the very origin of navigation.
For those who still believe that complexity can serve clarity, this watch is not just a technical triumph. It is a statement of principle.
Learn more about the Astronomic Souveraine via the official website.
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