Over a year ago, I first saw a F.P. Journe Tourbillon in the metal.  It instantly became my absolute grail watch . . . a mythical dream.  Ever since, I have loved and admired the watch from afar, hoping that one day I might own one myself.  Earlier this week, a F.P. Journe Tourbillon became available to me (platinum, grey dial) and, for a variety of reasons, I decided that now was the time to pull the trigger.  I intended to trade in my F.P. Journe Calendrier for the Tourbillon (plus a few other watches and some cash).

Having agreed on the deal points, I drove over to pick-up my new watch Wednesday afternoon.  I had a smile on my face from ear to ear, like a child heading to Disneyland.  I was wearing my FPJ Calendrier for what I believed to be the last time.  However, when the FPJ Tourbillon was placed in front of me, I hesitated.  Notwithstanding my profound admiration of the watch for over a year, it wasn't moving me to the extent that I had hoped and expected.  Don't get me wrong . . . the FPJ Tourbilon is an amazing watch and it most certainly moved me . . . just not with the monumental force I had expected.  This was a huge decision and I did not want to make a mistake.  I studied the tourbillon every which way.  I studied my Calendrier.  I put the tourbilon on one wrist and the Calendrier on my other wrist.  I contemplated the decision for over an hour. 

In the end, I came to the realization that, even though the Tourbillon is indisputably a greater engineering achievement and a more significant piece, I prefer the Calendrier.  The Calendrier is an incredible watch.  It blends the artistry of classical horology with modern design and innovation . . . simple and timeless, yet inspired and intriguing.  As I sat there staring at both watches, the Calendrier continued to captivate me, whereas the intrigue of the Tourbillon slowly faded away.  It speaks volumes that I have owned the Calendrier for almost a year and it continues to have such a deep impact on me.  It appeared that the Tourbillon would not have such an enduring impact.  I also began to question my prior admiration of the tourbillon complication itself.  I have always loved the hypnotizing operation of tourbillons.  However, as I intently studied the watch for a sustained period of time, the tourbillon itself began to take on somewhat of a gimmicky, novelty character.  The tourbillon was definitely fun to watch but, for me, it distracted from the overall presentation of the watch.  For lack of a better adjective, it seemed kind of gimmicky . . . an amusing parlor trick of sorts.  I also found the dial too cluttered at the center, and there was too much writing on the dial.

Based on the foregoing, I stepped back and passed on my dream/grail watch.  I decided I would rather have my inferior Calendrier.  I climbed back down the mountain empty handed.  I still love and admire several tourbillons (Greubel Forsey and Richard Mille in particular) but, for now, I am going tourbillon-less.

I'm sure the foregoing sounds rather trivial to most, but it was significant for me.  Now that my grail is no longer my grail, and I have no other current grail to aspire to, I guess I will settle back into enjoying my existing collection.

Thanks for listening to my rambling,

Craig