It seems that blue is a theme among this year’s Only Watches. F.P. Journe has released its unique blue colored timepiece that they will be contributing to the 6th edition of the Only Watch charity auction coming up in November. F.P. Journe Tourbillon Souverain for Only Watch 2015 comes with a blue chrome dial and a tantalum case.
For the first time, Journe participates in this event. Also, it is the very first time that a tourbillon is made with a case entirely crafted from tantulum. Tantulum has been named as such in reference to the Greek mythology’s “Torment of Tantalus” because it is extremely hard to work with, but it has a gorgeous blue hue that gives it an outstanding appeal, and makes it worth the extra effort. The iridescent blue dial compliments the color theme and creates a perfect contrast with a tourbillon counter where the 18-karat rose gold movement is peaking out. Because of its hardness and high melting point, this bluish-gray metal is used sometimes to tip armour-piercing shells.
Although the dial is being single colored, it is complex considering the fact that it is composed of multiple layers of lacquer to achieve the brilliant blue nuance that has a shiny and slightly metallic surface. It look like it is chrome plated because it changes its character according to the color of incident light from almost black to vivid blue.
The dial shows its regulating organ at the 9 o’ clock position in a large aperture. The regulating organ is linked to two complications. The first one is a remontoir d’égalité that plays the role of a constant force mechanism, whilst the second complication is a deadbeat second that is directly linked to the remontoir, thus being a true and instantaneous complication.
On the right side of the dial, at the 3 o’clock position, the FP Journe Tourbillon Souverain Bleu features a counter that shows minutes and hours. At the 12 o’clock position sits a power reserve display, while on the opposite side, at the 6 o’clock position, there is a small second sub-dial.
The beating heart of the watch is the caliber 1403 self-winding movement which is entirely developed, assembled and finished in-house in Geneva, with haute horlogerie standards. The manually wound movement is finished to perfection with circular stripes on the bridges, Geneva waves on base plate, polished screw heads and bevelled pegs with polished rounded ends. The mechanism can store 42 hours of power reserve.
The 6th edition of the Only Watch charity auction will take place on 7 November 2015 in Geneva. All proceeds will be transferred to support research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
