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.
An independent watchmaker since the late 1970s, Dufour restored antique and vintage timepieces which led him ten years later to develop a very small series of pocket and grand sonnerie wrist watches, followed by the Duality, the world’s first wristwatch incorporating a double escapement.
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 white 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, 120 of them were sold in Japan. Purchased by an astute collector at Shellman Japan in 2001, the present timepiece is certainly one of the earliest pieces that left Dufour’s workbench.
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.
Engraved on the movement number 09, the present white gold Simplicity with guilloché dial cased in 34mm diameter, is not only uber rare, it is also one of the earliest serial numbered example that grace the market for the first time. 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. Celebrating the 75th birthday of Mr. Dufour, this is the perfect opportunity to obtain arguably the most coveted timepiece in the world.
