Hey Mate,
Trust all is well.
I was there at the event as you know, and got to handle the RG version that Journe wore that day.
I have to say for me personally i was fairly disappointed.
After waiting for this masterpiece since i 1st read about it, i have to agree to the reaction of Nicolas, that the CO is NOT as optimal as it is said to be.
You probably know me and my synchronisation principle, thus the fact that the CO has no zero reset ( which is bad also in my opinion as the minute hands keep on moving while only the seconds hand is stopped), and no stop seconds function, makes this a clear NO NO for me.
May i humbly ask too, when you said that you are happy to wind your DS ( I assume this is the Journe Dead Second Tourbillon you are referring to) to the atomic time, since this piece does not come with hacking function, are you saying that the way you do this is to let the watch come to a full stop, then since you probably know how many turns of the crown it takes for the watch to start up from a full stand still, you carefully count the seconds from the second that the seconds hand is stopped at ( e.g. it takes 3 turns of the crown to start, and the seconds hand is now stopped at 47 seconds, therefore you start winding it at 45 seconds on the atomic time, therefore the watch will ideally start ticking at the 47th seconds on atomic time). This is the method i take ( which i dreadfully hate) to synchro my watches that does NOT come with a stop seconds function.
That's why i still emphasize greatly on the importance and need of hacking on watches. Long live Lange! ( where all watches, inclusive tourbillons after 2009 hacks )
I understand Journe's point of view, and i confirmed it with him at the event. But seriously maybe this is why i have a strong upfront love for German watches over Swiss. Touchy subject i would say, but i have made my stance, and stand by it all the way. Only the Germans ( in magazines such as Chronos) would list the lack of stop seconds ( Sekundenstopp) as a con. ( In their watch reviews at the end where they have the pros and cons).
Like i always say, is it truly fair if you start a race not from the zero line, and said that you have won when you are the 1st to cross the finish line? Is it correct to time a race with the cars starting all over the place and not from a STANDARD starting line and yet time each and everyone? I know i know this is ultra debatable, but for me i just dont agree with it one bit. I believe the zero position is there for a reason. And not you take into account the deviation from there, and then see the positional difference.
Why the need for 0 on a ruler then? Afterall 10cm from zero to 10 is the same as from 10 to 20. BUT people DO measure from the 0 dont they? Well even if they dont, i do.
Same case here.
Just my rants, but overall the watch per say, is a nice piece of Platinum hunk. Not that it meets my criteria.
Tschuss
Stephen