The third vagabond from F. P. Journe
The only Manufacture to design and produce a specific calibre for a limited series of 137 pieces, F.P. Journe unveils the third and last of the Vagabondage Series, Vagabondage III
The third vagabond strolls out from the maison of F. P. Journe in the persona of Vagabondage III, produced in a limited series of 69 pieces in platinum and 68 pieces in 18 K red gold. The saga of Vagabondage began in 2004, when François-Paul Journe designed 3 unprecedented watches with a flat Tortue case (patented model), a digital time display and a dial without signature, for the 30th anniversary of Antiquorum.
The 3 watches were sold at a charity auction for the benefit of the ICM, a research institute for brain and spinal cord diseases. The watches captured the interest of the public, and sold for three times the estimate.
Vagabondage I – Digital Hours
In the wake of the resounding success of that auction, F.P. Journe launched in 2006 the Vagabondage I Series. The name Vagabondage comes from the fact that the time is indicated by a wandering digital display; the design itself was “vagabond” in that it was created by François-Paul Journe as a satellite creation, in addition to his regular collections. This limited series with a flat Tortue case differs from the round cases generally favoured by the brand.
It was produced in a series of 69 pieces in platinum and 10 pieces in platinum set with baguette diamonds, with a manually wound 18 K rose gold movement. They were snapped up by aficionados and the Vagabondage legend was born.
Vagabondage II – Digital Jumping Hours and Minutes
The second Vagabondage edition was created in 2010. 69 pieces in platinum, 68 pieces in red gold and 10 pieces in platinum with baguette diamonds were produced. It has a manually wound movement with digital display, but also features small seconds at 6h and a power reserve display at 12h. The smoked sapphire crystal dial, without the F.P. Journe signature, reveals the 18 carat rose gold movement. F.P. Journe developed a specific barrel and a remontoir d’égalité, providing better energy management for the instantaneous jump of the minutes and hours.
Vagabondage III – Digital Jumping Hours and Seconds
This third edition, which has been eagerly awaited by collectors, retains the flat Tortue case, is the same size as the Vagabondage II, with a manually wound movement with a remontoir d’égalité that advances the time train each second. The inner smoked sapphire dial, framed by a screwed “appliqué” outer dial, still without the F.P. Journe signature, reveals the 18 K rose gold movement.
A window at 10h displays the digital hour indications; another at 6h indicates the digital seconds; both are framed in white. The central minutes are indicated by a white hand, while the power reserve at 1h features a blued steel hand. Vagabondage III is the last of the 3 digital time displays from the marque, completing the trilogy.
