F. P. Journe

In 2008, François-Paul Journe received the prestigious Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève for his Centigraphe Souverain, marking the third time he had captured the top prize since founding his eponymous brand in 1999. The award was a fitting recognition of a watch that combined visionary horological engineering with a purity of design that few modern watchmakers have achieved before or since.

At its heart, the Centigraphe Souverain is an extraordinary mechanical chronograph. The in-house cal. 1506 is composed of 18K gold bridges and plates, capable of measuring elapsed time from one-hundredth of a second to ten minutes, displayed across three distinct subdials. Its patented mechanism ingeniously separates the chronograph from the timekeeping gear train, ensuring that the amplitude of the balance, and thus the watch’s precision, remains unaffected during timing. This independent energy system is a testament to Journe’s relentless pursuit of chronometric integrity and his refusal to compromise aesthetics for function. As with most Journe watches of this era, the case measures a comfortable 40mm in diameter and is constructed of luxurious platinum, with an exhibition case back affixed using Journe’s unique proprietary screws. To add to the feel of high luxury, the watch is mounted on a heavy platinum five-link bracelet with a double folding clasp.

The story of the Centigraphe is as much about collaboration as it is about invention. Its conceptual godfather was Jean Todt, then Executive Director of Scuderia Ferrari, whose world of high-speed racing demanded accuracy to the smallest fraction of a second. Journe and Todt first met through the ICM Foundation, dedicated to brain and spinal cord research, and their discussions soon turned to the challenge of timing modern Formula One cars mechanically—a feat no watch had yet mastered. “There was nothing serious enough in mechanical horology to time today’s racing cars to the hundredth of a second,” Journe later reflected. After three years of development, the Centigraphe Souverain was born—a watch that merged scientific precision, aesthetic symmetry, and pure mechanical poetry.

The present example belongs to the rare “Rosso Corsa” series, a special configuration celebrating the partnership between Journe and Todt. According to research, only a handful - certainly fewer than 20 examples - are believed to exist with this distinctive Ferrari red dial, made using authentic Ferrari Rosso Corsa automotive paint, while the hands are similarly finished in Giallo Moderna, the same color used in Ferrari’s emblematic prancing horse badge. Beyond its technical mastery, the Centigraphe Souverain “F” stands as a remarkable fusion of watchmaking artistry and automotive heritage—a symbol of precision, passion, and collaboration at the highest level.