Philippe Dufour

Philippe Dufour (born 1948) is a Swiss-born watchmaker from Le Sentier, Vallée de Joux.[1] He is regarded as the greatest master of modern watchmaking, and his watches are referenced as among the best ever made. He builds all of his watches by himself by hand.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] In 1992, Dufour was the first watchmaker to put arguably the most complex of complications in a wristwatch, a Sonnerie.[10] His other two models include Duality and Simplicity.

Education

After middle-school, at the age of 15, Dufour decided to choose a profession rather than studying academics. Upon his decision to study mechanics, he got his first training at the Ecole d’Horlogerie de la Vallée de Joux and graduated at 1967.[11]

Career

Following the completion of his studies, he was hired by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1967. After working for several companies, Audemars Piguet ordered 5 Sonnerie movements for pocket watches from Dufour and he started to work on the project in 1982. The last movement was delivered in 1988. After finishing the order, he set out to become one of the first independent watchmakers and presented his first wristwatch in his own name in the Basel World fair in 1992.[12] Following the world's first Sonnerie wristwatch, he developed the Duality in 1996. The principle of the watch was based on the differential system that averages errors between two balance wheels. Only 9 pieces were made.[13]

In 2000, he introduced his most famous model: Simplicity. The model was the only current production watch from Dufour and about 200 were planned to be produced. He reportedly has so many orders he is not taking any more.

One of his Simplicity watches is exhibited at The Espace Horloger watch museum at Switzerland.[5]

Auctions and collectability

Simplicity is the most frequently appearing model at auctions. In 2016, Phillips sold one for €260,000.[14] In 2017, Sotheby's sold one for €176,000.[15] In 2017, Phillips sold one for €192,500.[16]

One of the 9 Duality models ever produced was sold in 2017 at New York by Phillips for almost $1,000,000.[17]

Personal collection

Other than his own creations, Dufour has been seen wearing only two other watches.

In an interview during SIHH 2016 he stated: "Datograph is the only neutral watch I bought for myself",[18] a timepiece from A. Lange & Söhne. In an interview with watch industry publication Hodinkee, he stated: "The best chronograph ever made is the Datograph".[19]

At Baselworld 2019, he was seen wearing a Rolex GMT Master II ref. 126710.[20]

References
  1. "Philippe Dufour Watches". dufourwatches.free.fr. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  2. Doerr, Elizabeth. "Le Garde Temps Prototype by Greubel Forsey and Philippe Dufour Hammers for $1.46 Million at Auction". Forbes.com. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. Forster, Jack. "It's About Time". Forbes.com. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. Clerizo, Michael (2009). Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking (1st ed.). Thames & Hudson. p. 72. ISBN 978-0500514856.
  5. Beckett, Kathleen. "A Watch Master at Work". nytimes.com. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. Pulvirent, Stephen; September 7, Jack Forster; 2018. "HODINKEE Radio: Bonus Episode: Philippe Dufour". HODINKEE. Retrieved 17 June 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. May 22, Benjamin Clymer; 2013. "The Road To Basel Episode 2: Inside The Atelier With The Legendary Philippe Dufour". HODINKEE. Retrieved 17 June 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. February 6, Arthur Touchot; 2017. "Found: Philippe Dufour Simplicity Number 17 For Sale Online". HODINKEE. Retrieved 17 June 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Philippe Dufour Grande Sonnerie, Duality and Simplicity". The Hour Glass. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  10. Xian, Su Jia. "A Detailed Look at the Magnificent Philippe Dufour Grande and Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch". watchesbysjx. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  11. "From the Bench: PHILIPPE DUFOUR". A COLLECTED MAN. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  12. "Philippe Dufour – AHCI". ahci.ch. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  13. Markl, Xavier. "Independent Watchmaking In Conversation with "Monsieur" Philippe Dufour". Monochromewatches. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  14. "Philippe Dufour - An extremely fine and equally rare pink gold wristwatch with original certificate and fitted presentation box, Circa 2002". Phillips. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  15. https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2017/important-watches-hk0743/lot.2198.html
  16. "Philippe Dufour - An extremely rare and fine pink gold wristwatch with original certificate and presentation box, 2012". Phillips. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  17. "Philippe Dufour - An exceedingly rare, important, and early platinum wristwatch with double regulator, certificate and fitted presentation box., 1996". Phillips. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  18. "Philippe Dufour master watchmaker favorites watches at SIHH 2016". Youtube. FondationHH. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  19. Clymer, Benjamin. "he Road To Basel Episode 2: Inside The Atelier With The Legendary Philippe Dufour". Hodinkee.com. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  20. Pulvirent, Stephen. "Watch Spotting: Philippe Dufour Wearing A Rolex 'Pepsi' GMT-Master II Ref. 126710 BLRO At Baselworld 2019". Hodinkee.com. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
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