A complex beauty! The F.P. Journe Centigraphe Souverain
The Centigraphe Souverain is far from an ordinary chronograph. It was born from the longstanding friendship between François-Paul Journe and Jean Todt, a highly influential figure in international motorsport. The two first met during Todt’s years at Ferrari, bonding over a mutual passion for car racing. They also share a long-term philanthropic commitment to the ICM Foundation.
Their vision led them to imagine the ultimate motorsport chronograph, capable of measuring up to one-hundredth of a second. First released in 2007, the Centigraphe Souverain won the Aiguille d’Or, the most prestigious watchmaking award, just one year later.
At first glance, the watch is unmistakably F.P. Journe, with its signature screwed subdial frames and knurled crown. The 40mm platinum case pairs beautifully with the subtle shades of gray and silver on the dial. Standing just over 10mm, it remains well proportioned and compact for a chronograph of this complexity.
The dial may look complex at first, but quickly becomes intuitive with a bit of practice. The central hours and minutes hands are highly legible, and surrounded by three chronograph subdials. Each subdial uses two different color indications: red to measure time and black to measure speed.
The chronograph measures an extraordinarily wide range of speeds, from a walking pace (6 km/h) all the way to a rocket-like 36,000 km/h, which is almost unheard of in mechanical watchmaking. To achieve this, three specialized subdials track time at different scales: one hand does a full rotation every second, another every 20 seconds, and a third every 10 minutes.
Instead of pushers, F.P. Journe opted for a patented ergonomic Rocker arm to start, stop, and reset the chronograph. Observing the chronograph in action is particularly striking, highlighted by the foudroyante second hand racing at incredible speed.
The Centigraphe is powered by the innovative calibre 1506, which was developed with performance and precision in mind. Even today, it remains one of the most technically sophisticated movements produced by the brand. To prevent the chronograph from affecting timekeeping accuracy, the two functions are isolated via separate wheel trains, powered by a patented barrel that rotates in both directions. When stopping the chronograph, the foudroyante hand pinion vertically disengages, allowing precise reading even between two one-hundredth of a second divisions.
The mainspring delivers a substantial 80-hour power reserve, or 24 hours with the chronograph engaged. Unlike most watches, the crown must be pulled out to the first position to wind the movement, as the base position is completely disengaged.
The exhibition caseback allows a full view of the hand-wound chronograph movement, which is finished to an exceptional standard. Made of 18 carat gold, the movement displays a selection of high horology finishing techniques including the brand’s signature circular stripes on the bridges, polished screw heads and circular graining on the baseplate.
It is therefore no surprise that the Centigraphe Souverain remains highly exclusive, as it embodies a beautiful expression of F.P. Journe’s sense of design and mechanical ingenuity. By reinterpreting the chronograph, one of the most engaging complications in watchmaking, François Paul Journe created a truly exceptional timepiece.