Tech mogul, watch connoisseur? Zuck is entering a whole new era. When Mark Zuckerberg took the stage to announce Meta’s latest leap in artificial intelligence — Llama 4, the company’s most advanced open-source AI model yet — something besides code was catching the spotlight: his wrist.
Sharp-eyed watch enthusiasts quickly clocked the F.P. Journe Vagabondage I in 6N Gold, a timepiece that’s as elusive as it is elegant. Retailing originally around $100,000 but now fetching upwards of $700,000 on the secondary market, the watch is more than a status symbol — it’s a nod to one of the most respected independent watchmakers in the world.
Zuckerberg’s choice of wristwear wasn’t just opulent — it was intentional. F.P. Journe is a brand for insiders, revered for its mechanical ingenuity and discreet prestige. The Vagabondage I is especially rare, with only 68 pieces ever produced in red gold. The timepiece features a wandering digital hour display and a hand-wound movement that’s as much art as engineering. Its design language is minimalist but deeply complex, echoing Journe’s philosophy of timeless innovation — something that seems to resonate with Zuckerberg’s evolving personal style.
The watch itself is housed in a distinctive Tortue-shaped case made from 6N red gold, measuring 37.5mm by 45.2mm with a slim height of 7.6mm. It features a unique digital jumping hour complication, where the current hour is highlighted in a rotating disc that moves around the dial to indicate minutes on a peripheral track. The sapphire crystal aperture at the center showcases the escapement and balance wheel, offering a glimpse into the intricate mechanics of the manually wound caliber 1504.2. This updated movement is a refined version of the original 1504, known for its enhanced reliability and exquisite finishing, including Geneva stripes, beveled edges, and circular graining throughout.
While the Facebook founder was once known for his grey t-shirts and no-nonsense hoodies, recent years have shown a more refined side to his persona. His growing watch collection, especially his apparent love for F.P. Journe, suggests he’s leaning into a subtler kind of flex — one that speaks to connoisseurship rather than clout.
And then there’s Llama 4 — the reason for the moment. Meta’s newest language model promises smarter, faster, and more efficient AI capabilities, solidifying the tech giant’s position in the open-source AI space. But while Zuckerberg’s announcement focused on machine learning and model scaling, the real statement might have been made in gold and sapphire crystal.
In a world where tech leaders increasingly dabble in luxury — whether it’s superyachts, tailored suits, or custom-built homes — watches are quickly becoming the new calling card of cultivated taste. And with the Vagabondage I on his wrist, Zuck just joined the big leagues of horological prestige. Looks like the next frontier in AI might come with a hand-wound movement.
