Manufacturer: F.P. Journe Year: Circa 2012 Case No: Limited edition number 54/68 Model Name: Vagabondage II Material: Pink gold Calibre: Manual, cal. 1509, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18k pink gold FP Journe deployant clasp Dimensions: 29.3mm x 28.2mm Signed: Case, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by FP. Journe Certificate of Authenticity Literature: F.P. Journe Invenit et Fecit by Jean-Pierre Grosz is dedicated to François-Paul Journe and his works
Catalogue Essay
The story of Journe’s Vagabondage series is an unusual one. It starts off in the 1990s when a watch brand contacts the young François-Paul, who had not yet launched his eponymous brand, for a wandering hour wristwatch. The project never went through but Journe kept the idea and in 2004 he created 3 unique jump hour watches in a very elegant “tortue” case shape (yellow, pink and white gold) to be sold at auction for charity. He followed up with a limited edition of 69 pieces in platinum that sold out rapidly and even more impressively from word of mouth as the watch was never publicized.
The Vagabondage II, like the present model, was launched in 2010 as an ultra-limited edition of 69 pieces in platinum and 68 in pink gold of which the present model is number 54.
Vagabondage in French makes reference to errance and roaming, a very fitting name for a digital display. The hours are indicated via a window on the top part of the dial, minutes are indicated via two discs and subseconds are classically placed at 6 o’clock. A power reserve indicator sits atop all the time telling indications.
With the Vagabondage, Journe presented his first non-round watch. The elegant slim tortue case features a flat bezel and short lugs. The transparent smoked crystal is a window into the mechanism. Interestingly and quite unusually no brand name is mentioned on the dial but a cavalcade of details display the brand’s unmistakable genetic codes.
The watch houses the inhouse caliber 1509, a form movement, in pink gold, fitting perfectly into the case, beautifully finished, and features a constant force device that ensures that the energy from the mainspring is equally distributed with no loss each time the discs jump. Furthermore, the movement is playfully stamped Geneva Made instead of the habitual Swiss Made seen on watches from other makers.
The present Vagabondage II offers a unique opportunity to obtain one of the rarest watches from a watchmaker whose creations are avidly sought after by collectors worldwide.
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.