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Lot Essay
The Vagabondage collection traces its origins to one of François-Paul Journe's most unconventional projects. Conceived in 2004 for Antiquorum's 30th Anniversary charity auction benefiting the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM) in Paris, the creation embodied what the manufacture has aptly described as the quintessence of anti-marketing. Three unique timepieces, crafted in white, yellow, and pink gold and powered by brass movements, were housed in a patented tortue-shaped case and featured an entirely unsigned dial with an original digital time display. Their extraordinary reception at auction immediately established the concept as one of Journe's most compelling creations.
Following the overwhelming enthusiasm generated by the charity pieces, F.P. Journe introduced the first Vagabondage series in 2004. Produced in extremely limited numbers and launched without advertising, official photographs, or promotional campaign, it quickly became one of the manufacture's most coveted models. The name Vagabondage refers not only to its wandering digital display, but also to its independent spirit, having been conceived as a satellite creation existing outside the brand's regular collections.
Presented in 2017, the Vagabondage III marked the culmination of the trilogy. Retaining the signature tortue-shaped case introduced by its predecessors, it is powered by a manually wound movement incorporating a remontoir d'égalité, delivering constant force to the escapement while advancing the digital seconds display in one-second increments.
The present timepiece showcases the collection's distinctive display architecture. Beneath the smoked sapphire crystal dial, the exquisitely finished 18K pink gold movement remains fully visible, while, in keeping with the philosophy of the Vagabondage collection, the dial is deliberately left unsigned. The jumping digital hours are displayed through an aperture at 10 o'clock, the digital seconds through a second aperture at 6 o'clock, while a centrally mounted white hand indicates the minutes. A power reserve indicator at 1 o'clock, fitted with a blued steel hand, completes one of the most original and technically sophisticated displays ever created by F.P. Journe.
Following the overwhelming enthusiasm generated by the charity pieces, F.P. Journe introduced the first Vagabondage series in 2004. Produced in extremely limited numbers and launched without advertising, official photographs, or promotional campaign, it quickly became one of the manufacture's most coveted models. The name Vagabondage refers not only to its wandering digital display, but also to its independent spirit, having been conceived as a satellite creation existing outside the brand's regular collections.
Presented in 2017, the Vagabondage III marked the culmination of the trilogy. Retaining the signature tortue-shaped case introduced by its predecessors, it is powered by a manually wound movement incorporating a remontoir d'égalité, delivering constant force to the escapement while advancing the digital seconds display in one-second increments.
The present timepiece showcases the collection's distinctive display architecture. Beneath the smoked sapphire crystal dial, the exquisitely finished 18K pink gold movement remains fully visible, while, in keeping with the philosophy of the Vagabondage collection, the dial is deliberately left unsigned. The jumping digital hours are displayed through an aperture at 10 o'clock, the digital seconds through a second aperture at 6 o'clock, while a centrally mounted white hand indicates the minutes. A power reserve indicator at 1 o'clock, fitted with a blued steel hand, completes one of the most original and technically sophisticated displays ever created by F.P. Journe.