Football legend Tom Brady once said, “Over the years, I’ve figured out what my style really is, and it doesn’t have to be what everyone else wears.” He meant every word, because not everyone can get their hands on an F.P. Journe Vagabondage II. But the NFL icon did, and that very watch, owned and worn by Tom Brady, recently sold for a whopping $960,000 at a Sotheby’s New York auction. Not only did the timepiece come from the personal collection of a true watch connoisseur, but it is a legendary limited-edition creation by François‑Paul Journe himself. The Vagabondage line was an intentional departure from the brand’s traditional aesthetic, originally conceived to generate interest and raise funds for a special charity auction in support of the ICM (Brain and Spine Institute) in Paris.
This timepiece beautifully reflects the brand’s willingness to break its own rules for the sake of benevolence. Departing from standard design norms, the Vagabondage was created with a distinct tonneau-shaped case and entirely omitted the signature F.P. Journe name from the dial, a bold move that immediately resonated with watch enthusiasts. Following the success of the original, the Vagabondage II arrived in 2010 as the middle chapter of the trilogy, and it is widely considered by collectors to be the most beautiful of the three.
Brady’s particular timepiece shines in platinum, limited to just 69 examples, and is powered by the manually wound calibre 1509. Elevating its luxury status is the fact that the calibre 1509 movement inside Brady’s watch is crafted entirely from 18k rose gold, which is highly visible through the semi-skeletonized dial. Unlike the first Vagabondage, Brady’s Version II features a fully digital, instantaneously jumping display for both hours and minutes, a complex mechanical feat that only a handful of wristwatches in the world can manage. The jumping hours are presented through an aperture at 12 o’clock, while the minutes are displayed via twin apertures positioned directly above a constant seconds subdial.
It is a design that draws you in, inviting you to appreciate the watch not just to tell the time, but to enjoy a mesmerizing mechanical performance. While the reference was originally produced between 2010 and 2011, records show this specific piece was a special manufacture commission completed in 2017 for the former New England Patriot. Remaining in excellent condition and complete with its original packaging and documentation, its initial estimate of $400,000 to $800,000 was thoroughly smashed when the hammer fell at $960,000, setting a brand-new world record for the reference.