A silhouette that is truly unique, a man with a loupe on his head, puffing out smoke from his elegant pipe in his Atelier amongst the peaceful valley of Le Solliat in the Vallée de Joux. Philippe Dufour is a name that’s foreign to none in the world of horology, a true living legend and guardian of traditional watchmaking in our times.

After having proven his undeniable talent and expertise in creating ultra-complicated mechanisms, he set out in the year 2000 to create yet another icon. Classic and understated, a three-handed timepiece, the Simplicity is a masterpiece. The Simplicity model was introduced in 2000 as a nod to traditional Swiss watchmaking, with each timepiece being handmade and assembled. The model was produced in different variations, with pink or white gold cases, a smaller model with 34mm diameter case, and a larger model with 37mm case. Dufour also created two dial types, one in plain lacquer and the other with a hand-guilloché dial.

Initially, the Simplicity was supposed to be limited to only 100 watches, but due to the incredible demand from clients and collectors, Dufour extended that number to circa 205. Japan was known to have a large and passionate following since the very early days, as a result 204 Simplicities that were made between 2000 and 2012, approximately 120 of them were sold in Japan.

Resided in a private Japanese collector’s collection for 13 years since 2012, the present Simplicity is truly a special one. Cased in a 37mm pink gold case is one of the rarest configuration from the model, the grey guilloché dial. One of only two known up to this date, the present example is fresh-to-the-market and numbered 173 on the movement.

The gentle flow of the bridges’ curves, the bold and alluring inward and outward angles, the hand applied Geneva waves and red rubies provide a seductive visual harmony. Needless to say that the decoration and assembly are done by hand explaining the fact that less than a dozen Simplicities per year left Dufour’s workshops in the Vallée de Joux. For the astute connoisseurs, everyday was a pleasure to wait, the craftsmanship of a Dufour timepiece is just divine, and not to mention the delightful sound when wounding a Simplicity.

Furthermore, it is preserved in a wonderful condition with its original strap and complete with its original certificate and presentation box. A legacy that’s unquestionable, a force and statement of horological craftsmanship, Phillips is honored to present this timepiece for collectors who seek for an unusual combination of the Simplicity that left Dufour’s workbench to Japan in 2012.