Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: Circa 2007 Case No: No. 60/69 VIII Model Name: Vagabondage III Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 1514, 32 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold F.P. Journe deployant clasp Dimensions: 42mm length by 36mm width Signed: Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by F.P. Journe Certificate dated July 26th, 2007 with operating instructions on the reverse, and numbered envelope.
Catalogue Essay
For François-Paul’s final iteration of the Vagabondage, meaning “wandering” in French, just as for the previous two, he reworked the whole movement from the ground up, this time with jumping hours and seconds digitally displayed. Given the tremendous energy needed to power the digital jumping seconds, Journe incorporated his signature remontoir d’égalité mechanism allowing the balance wheel to maintain a constant amplitude. The mechanism of the two seconds’ discs at 6 o’clock can be seen rotating under the smoked sapphire crystal dial, allowing the wearer to appreciate every single jump of the second.
Housed in a traditional tortue shaped case, the Vagabondage III is aesthetically modern thanks to its deceptively complex yet elegantly minimal pared-down dial. The smoked sapphire dial, also used on the Sonnerie Souverain, subtly reveals many elements of the 18 karat rose-gold movement within.
Consigned as part of the complete set, numbered 60 of 69, the present Vagabondage III comes with its original certificate of origin and comes directly from the collection of the original owner.
Corresponding number 60 Vagabondage I and III are sold as lots 83 and 84 of this sale.
Founded by watchmaker François-Paul Journe in 1999, the F.P. Journe brand is relatively young, but already is as highly regarded by collectors as many distinguished manufacturers with centuries-old heritage. In the minds of the world's savviest collectors, Journe is producing some of the finest wristwatches the market has ever seen. Mastering his craft from restoring historical timepieces, he was the first to create a wristwatch incorporating two escapements that benefit from the phenomenon of resonance — the Chronomètre à Résonance.
Key models include the Résonance, tourbillon wristwatches incorporating a remontoir and the limited edition Vagabondage series. Especially sought-after are his earliest "souscription" watches, made in 1999.
A very rare and fine limited edition semi-skeletonized platinum tortue-shaped wristwatch with digital jump hours and seconds, power reserve indication, and certificate, number 60 of a limited edition of 69 pieces
Circa 2007 42mm length by 36mm width Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed
