PHILIPPE DUFOUR WATCHES
Philippe Dufour is undoubtedly one of the most revered ambassadors of fine independent watchmaking. His watchmaking company (Philippe Dufour S.A.) is located in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Philippe Dufour is well-known for his iconic watches like the Duality, the Simplicity and the Répétition Minutes Grande et Petite sonnerie.
For Philippe Dufour, perfection is a quest. In his workshop in the village of Solliat, in the Vallée de Joux, each watch is entirely handmade, often using traditional manual tools, adhering to the most demanding artisanal standards. Each watch is custom-ordered directly by the client. A Philippe Dufour wristwatch is a complex mechanical masterpiece that epitomizes true luxury, with its design being the aesthetic Grail of simplicity.
Born in Switzerland in 1948, Philippe Dufour graduated from the Vallée de Joux Watchmaking School in 1967 and was hired the same year by Jaeger-LeCoultre. However, his personal watchmaking journey follows in the footsteps of several great modern horological geniuses, including George Daniels and François-Paul Journe, through the repair and restoration of antique pocket watches. His reputation for excellence was such that, in 1982, Philippe Dufour was commissioned by Audemars Piguet to create five Grande Sonnerie pocket watch calibers, the last of which was delivered in 1988.
A year later, thanks to his mastery of the Grande Sonnerie complication, Philippe Dufour created the wristwatch that would mark a turning point in the recognition of his supreme watchmaking talent and the establishment of the Philippe Dufour brand.
This wristwatch was the first in the world to be equipped with a Grande and Petite Sonnerie minute repeater movement, one of the most challenging horological complications to construct, especially within the unprecedentedly confined space of a wristwatch case. Born from the desire to create something never before achieved, the Grande Sonnerie was presented at Baselworld in 1992 after two and a half years of work.
Following the success of this extraordinary world first, Philippe Dufour developed and produced another groundbreaking timepiece. His next wristwatch model, named ‘Duality,’ was launched in 1996 and was the first wristwatch to feature a double escapement.
The movement is constructed with two balance wheels compensated by a central differential, a system based on the principle that the differential averages out the errors between the two escapements, thus halving the potential errors. Only nine examples of the ‘Duality’ were ever made.
At Baselworld in 2000, Philippe Dufour presented the model that is perhaps the most well-known among collectors, ‘Simplicity.’ Reflecting Philippe Dufour’s relentless pursuit of perfection, this model was originally created to meet the high demand for his watches in Japan and is the only current production model. About 200 examples have been produced to date, in either gold or platinum, and the demand is such that no further orders can be accepted.
Philippe Dufour was unanimously awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 2013 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. Following this exceptional honor, he was invited to become a member of the Jury, where his decades of experience at the highest level of watchmaking make his contribution invaluable.
The Philippe & Elisabeth Dufour Foundation
On June 3, 2023, Philippe Dufour celebrated his 75th birthday at the Hôtel des Horlogers in the Joux Valley. This significant milestone for one of the greatest living watchmakers took on an international dimension with the announcement of the creation of the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation.
The Dufour Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established to support the most pressing humanitarian needs worldwide. These needs include access to food, water, healthcare, housing, education, and environmental support. The Foundation has already established fundraising programs for various projects.
