F.P. Journe Répétition Souveraine Ref. RM: Video/Sound

Key Points from the Discussion

• The F.P. Journe Répétition Souveraine is technically impressive due to its slim profile, but some collectors prioritize sound quality above all else in a minute repeater, suggesting that a larger case often allows for better resonance.
• While the F.P. Journe Répétition Souveraine was once the thinnest minute repeater globally, it has since been surpassed by other brands, though it remains among the thinnest with an overall thickness of 8.5mm and a caliber thickness of 4.5mm.
• The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater (6.85mm), Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica 11 (7.9mm), Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 (8.09mm), and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie (8.4mm) are notable examples of other ultra-thin minute repeaters that have surpassed or rivaled the F.P. Journe in thinness.
• The sound profile of the F.P. Journe Répétition Souveraine is distinct from other minute repeaters, such as vintage Vacheron, Patek, and Chopard Full Strike, raising questions about the unique placement of its gongs within the thin case.
• Personal experience with the F.P. Journe Répétition Souveraine confirms that its sound is indeed on the softer side, aligning with the trade-off between thinness and volume.
• Improvements to the gongs and their interaction, initially applied to the grand sonnerie, were also retrofitted to the Répétition Souveraine when watches returned for service, indicating F.P. Journe's continuous refinement of its chiming mechanisms.