F.P. Journe
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DETAILS
The F. P. Journe Vagabondage II is the second limited edition in a series of identically shaped wristwatches with unusual time displays. The first – Vagabondage I in platinum – was launched in 2004, while its gold version Vagabondage I Gold was added in 2022, and the third and last – Vagabondage III – in 2016. A common and special feature of all Vagabondages is that they do not have an F. P. Journe signature on their dials.
The caliber 1509 of the Vagabondage II was developed with a constant-force escapement similar to that of the Tourbillon Souverain watch, with the difference that in the Tourbillon Souverain the intermediate spring of the constant-force mechanism was charged once per second, whereas in the Vagabondage II it was charged once per minute. The switching process of the constant-force escapement at the moment the intermediate spring is rewound is used to precisely advance the digital time display – either one digit of the minute display, synchronously two digits or synchronously all three digits of the hour and minute displays.
REASONS TO BUY
Collectors value the watches from the F. P. Journe Vagabondage series as extremely desirable and very rare, even compared to the rest of the brand’s collection, which is only produced in limited numbers. The Vagabondage I watch should be considered a collector’s classic, as it is issued in a limited edition of only 69 pieces in platinum, which will not be exactly reproduced by the brand in the future. This watch marks the second chapter in a wonderful story that has lasted for 18 years with three generations of Vagabondage designs. The Vagabondage II offers a unique design and an extremely rare complication with a precise jumping digital display of hours and minutes driven by a constant force escapement. Both the design and the movement of this watch were developed by F. P. Journe, which undoubtedly contributes to the charisma of this watch.
With its tortoise-shaped platinum case and wide, flat bezel with pronounced vertical brushing, the Vagabondage series stands out not only from the round models in the F. P. Journe collection, but also from the luxurious collector’s models of other brands such as the Tortue by Cartier with its softer lines and rounded, polished bezel. The style of the Vagabondage watches, including Vagabondage II is characterized by a clear contouring of the shape, the use of sharp edges and a contrasting combination of finishing techniques which include polished wide side chamfers with matching sharp bevels in the lower and upper part of the case where the strap is attached.
ABOUT THIS WATCH
The functional principle of the caliber 1509 came very close to the idea of the A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk watch: both offered a jumping digital display of the time in hours and minutes with instant synchronous switching through the use of a constant-force escapement. For the Vagabondage II, François-Paul Journe used the design of the constant-force escapement that he had developed for his Tourbillon Souveraine. He modified this mechanism by increasing the cycle duration from one second to one minute. The layout of the digital display module is very similar to Joseph Pallweber's classic design, which he invented for pocket watches in 1885.
We think it plausible that this was one of the requests of the collectors with whom François-Paul Journe is said to have discussed the concept of the future watch in New York in 2005. Indirect proof of this version is the virtually impossible correspondence in another scenario between the functional characteristics of the two projects: digital hours and minutes, a small seconds hand, a power reserve and a source of switching impulses provided by a one-minute constant-force escapement. Unfortunately for François-Paul Journe, A. Lange & Söhne, who probably received the same request, managed to present their Zeitwerk watch shortly before the launch of the Vagabondage II.
However, F. P. Journe’s watch found its proud owners when the entire limited edition was sold out, and the Vagabondage II is now considered a worthy collector’s alternative to the Zeitwerk. Both are extremely interesting collector's items, with the Zeitwerk embodying the spirit of the Saxon manufacture and the Vagabondage II being a masterpiece of haute horlogerie crafted in the footsteps of French and Swiss precision watchmaking. In addition, the Vagabondage II is significantly slimmer than the Zeitwerk – 8 mm compared to 12.6 mm.
As with all other F.P. Journe watches since 2004, the bridges and mainplate of the Vagabondage II caliber 1509 are made of solid 18k rose gold. After the release of the limited series of the Vagabondage II with 69 pieces in platinum, 68 pieces in 18k gold and 10 pieces in platinum with baguette diamonds, the caliber 1509 was discontinued and has not reappeared since.
