Celebrating 20 Years of the F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain
A few intriguing highlights from this iconic model line
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain (CS), first introduced in 2005. That same year, it won the prestigious Men’s Watch Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).
Three years ago, I wrote a piece for this newsletter titled A Visual Chronicle of the F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain Family, 2005–2020, in which I tried to include all the notable CS models I could find.
I missed a few, but now seems like the perfect moment to revisit that article and add several intriguing examples to the list. I’ll also share a few photos of my own Chronomètre Souverain with a mother-of-pearl dial, along with the story of how I acquired it.
A Chronomètre Souverain Built by Rexhep Rexhepi?
Rexhep Rexhepi, a rock star in the world of independent watchmaking, actually spent 18 months working at Montres Journe before launching his own atelier in February 2012.
At F.P. Journe, each watchmaker is responsible for assembling an entire movement from start to finish. Newer members of the team typically begin with simpler models before moving on to more complex ones.
In a recent video interview, Rexhep revealed that during his time at F.P. Journe, he started out working on the Chronomètre Souverain. He later progressed to the Octa and the Chronomètre à Résonance. When asked in the interview whether he preferred the CS or the Chronomètre Bleu, he chose the CS — the model with a power reserve indicator.
Here’s an intriguing thought: among the many Chronomètre Souverain watches in collectors’ hands today, a few were actually built by Rexhep Rexhepi. Given that he worked at F.P.Journe from April 2010 to September 2011, it’s likely that any CS he assembled was made in 2010.
So if you happen to own a Chronomètre Souverain from 2010, there’s a meaningful chance that yours was made by Rexhep Rexhepi. Let that sink in.
A 38mm Chronomètre Souverain Nacre Edition
François-Paul Journe introduced his first wristwatch in a 38mm case back in 1991. A decade later, in 2001, he released a tourbillon in a larger 40mm case as part of the Ruthenium Collection. From that point on, clients could choose either 38mm or 40mm case sizes for certain models.
In 2015, however, François-Paul decided to discontinue the 38mm size. This move would later increase the desirability of these smaller-cased watches among collectors.
As a result, the Chronomètre Souverain was offered in both 38mm and 40mm formats from 2005 to 2015. The Boutique Collection Nacre, featuring mother-of-pearl dials, was produced in very limited quantities between 2012 and 2024. A 38mm CS with a nacre dial could only be ordered during the brief window from 2012 to 2015, making it an exceptionally rare variation.
I was fortunate to see one of these rare pieces last November at a 1916 Company boutique—a 38mm CS in platinum with a mother-of-pearl dial. I had the chance to compare it side by side with a standard 40mm CS. It was fascinating to see how the cases of different sizes had been carefully adapted to house the same movement.
F.P.Journe Society Chronometer
We owe a special thanks to Mr. Gary G. for sharing the F.P. Journe Society Chronometer in his tell-all piece published in October 2019. The Journe Society is an exclusive club for existing F.P.Journe collectors. To join, one must already own several F.P. Journe pieces and be invited to apply, with endorsements from two current members. The society is limited to around 100 members.
The membership fee is around $2,000—a significant sum—but it comes with a remarkable privilege of purchasing a F.P. Journe Society Chronometer. This special model is based on the Chronomètre Souverain but replaces the signature power reserve indicator with a moon phase display. Club member’s full name was engraved on the caseback. For more in-depth details, Gary G.'s article remains an essential read.
Sadly, the Society Chronometer is no longer being produced. The limited pieces were delivered between 2017 and 2023, making this unique model even more coveted among collectors. Only one came up for sale so far, offered by the 1916 Company.
New Boutique Collection Chronomètre Souverain
During the Salon F.P.Journe 2025, two new Chronomètre Souverain models were unveiled to join the Boutique Collection lineup, celebrating the 20th anniversary of this foundational model. The dial design follows the style and color scheme set by earlier Boutique Collection pieces, including the Divine and Quantième Perpétuel.
These stunning new models further enhance the legacy of the Chronomètre Souverain—and they surely won’t be the last.
5th Anniversary of My Own CS in Rose Gold with Nacre Dial
I became a serious watch enthusiast around 2018, and was influenced by a few friends who were really into F.P.Journe. A former boss at my previous job, an avid watch collector, introduced me to his client advisor at what is now the 1916 Company.
I began reading everything I could find about F.P. Journe and carefully studied every model in the catalog. I quickly fell in love with an entry-level piece from the Nacre Collection: a 40mm Chronomètre Souverain in a rose gold case with a mother-of-pearl dial. I placed an order in November 2019 through my new client advisor, whose company was a F.P.Journe Espace at the time.
In June 2020, the beautiful timepiece arrived, making this year the fifth anniversary of its addition to my collection. “You have good taste,” my advisor remarked, noting that he had received very few orders for the MOP version. I recently learned that he is also the advisor at the 1916 Company who helped Mark Zuckerberg begin his journey into watch collecting.
The CS is incredibly photogenic. It looks stunning both in person and in photographs. The harmonious dial layout, slim case profile, stunning gold movement, and shifting tones of the mother-of-pearl dial all come together to create a mesmerizing work of art.
I had always wondered how many examples of this exact model existed. After asking around, a F.P.Journe boutique employee shared that no more than 25 pieces of the MOP CS in rose gold were produced between 2012 and 2021.
I included this data point in my writeup—and, amusingly, Christie’s echoed it when listing an identical model. Their lot essay read: “Extremely exclusive, it is believed that only 25 pieces in pink gold were produced by 2021.”
15 CS Variants in the Current Catalog
Believe it or not, the current F.P. Journe catalog includes a total of 15 Chronomètre Souverain variants. These range from Havana dials and Boutique Collection pieces to exclusive Black Label editions. Some models are even offered with platinum or rose gold bracelets.
The Chronomètre Souverain remains an ideal entry point for those new to F.P. Journe, while also serving as a refined dress watch for seasoned collectors alike.
Happy 20th Anniversary of Chronomètre Souverain to François-Paul and the entire F.P.Journe team!
