Ever heard of a watch that costs a half a million bucks and has a waiting list of three years? That’s what F.P Journe has created. The Sonnerie Souveraine retails for a hefty $560,000 because of it’s ability to chime at the hours and quarters just like a grand clock.
What’s the big deal you ask? The big deal is getting an automatic watch to chime from the limited supply of energy of just your wrist movements. The creation of the Sonnerie Souveraineis has been heralded as amazing horological (study of the science and art of timekeeping devices) achievement.
So get on that waiting list and impress your friends when the hours strike. Ding-dong-dong!
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Posted by Christine
Beautiful watch and design. I can understand that the tiny intricate mechanisms inside the watch that causes the chimes make this piece of wrist jewellery real expensive.
Though…can you mute the chimes? I think it would be a nuissance having it chime at every quarter, 4 times an hour :S. -
Posted by AllaN
I suppose it harnests energry relying on kinetics of the wrist, but the real problem is, I can’t see enough energy can be gathered to activate the chimes, especially from wrist movements. I really love the right picture of the watch, its really beautifully crafted, its details are delicate and complex, but as for the picture on the left, it’s not as appealling. Another concern is.. what if the chimes go off during a meeting? There should really be an on/off option for the chimes, that way, the watch can be even more energy efficient.
My verdict: I would NOT buy this watch due to concerns with aesthetics and pricing. For $560,000, I would get something like the Omega Chronograph which is WAY BETTER looking, a few Diamond crested Rolexs, and perhaps, a CAR with the money left over WOO, Money Well Spent.
-AllaN -
Posted by jbkmo
I have no idea what the use of having a mini grandfather clock strapped to your wrist is, regardless of its novelty. You know, I could maybe see the use of having those chimes powered by the kinetics of your wrist…you know…if you were an old, blind man who had Parkinson’s or something.
Beautiful.
The one on the right looks awesome. I don’t agree with tummie - these watches don’t look boring in the least. I guess it’s one of those things that rich people get when they have no idea what the hell else to get because they’re so rich. I agree with Allen, however, that the price is too steep for something that isn’t very pragmatic, and I ABSOLUTELY second that you should probably get an Omega watch with that kind of money.
JAMES BOND wears Omega, you should too.
To tell you the truth, I think I kind of understand why these watches sell like they do. They’re not really watches, per se, but actually I think they’re more art. Watchmakers are revered by some for their ability at accuracy and precision in their craft - just look back in history at John Harrison! Few, these days, still have the mastery to shape metal into timepieces - it’s probably more the obscurity and underground-ness of Sonnerie Souveraine’s pieces that brings him acclaim, not the fact that his watches chime. He doesn’t just pump out timepieces like a factory, he sits there by himself and crafts each one personally. It’s a passion to him…he’s probably so attached to each watch that he calls their new owners every other night just to check on his children.
-j
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Posted by AllaN
Watches set at such prices were meant to be used as a status tool, you don’t see the So-Average-Jo wearing a Journe Sonnerie Souveraine watch, you actually wont be that likely to catch him wear a watch over $1000 IMO. As for me, if im about to spend $500,000, Aesthetics is key for my preferences, the better it looks, the higher chance i’d buy it. Its the same with cars for me, I fell in love with the Audi R8 for its looks, rather than its performance.
Thanks for spelling my name wrong jbkom -_-”
-AllaN
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