What occurs when the 4 completely different timepieces made by the best dwelling watchmaker come up for public sale on the similar time, a set of watches that absolutely demonstrates all the span of his work as an impartial watchmaker? You buckle up for a wild trip, that’s what. And that’s precisely what we bought on the weekend of November 5 and seven, 2021, when Phillips hosted an public sale with 248 completely different timepieces spanning the gamut of contemporary and classic horology, together with 4 once-in-a-lifetime heaps by Philippe Dufour.
Philippe Dufour’s 4 fashions: (L-R) Grande et Petite Sonnerie pocket watch, Grande et Petite Sonnerie wristwatch, Duality, and Simplicity (photograph courtesy Phillips)
Inarguably the best dwelling watchmaker, Dufour has been lively as an impartial since 1989 when he debuted his first watch, a grande et petite sonnerie pocket watch. This was the primary timepiece to bear his personal title after creating 5 grande et petite sonnerie actions for Audemars Piguet in the course of the Nineteen Eighties.
Two and a half years later, in 1992, Dufour debuted his first wristwatch at Baselworld, which was the world’s first grande et petite sonnerie wristwatch. Subsequent, he went on to create the Duality, the world’s first dual-escapement wristwatch. And, lastly, he developed the Simplicity, first seen within the yr 2000.
With the variety of orders for these fashions sufficient to final the watchmaker for years, that’s the place the Dufour assortment ends: 4 fashions spanning the final three many years.
And now, thanks to at least one unimaginable collector, the world had the prospect to see (and presumably purchase) all 4 Dufour watches in a single place.
Phillips Lot 145: Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie No. 1, 1989
That is the watch that began all of it for Dufour. After working for nearly a decade doing restoration of clocks, pocket watches, and wristwatches, Dufour arrange his personal workshop and determined to make his very personal variations of the items he restored, a lot of which had additionally been made within the Vallée de Joux the place Dufour was born and bred.
Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie No. 1
He created his first motion, an uncased 19-ligne grand sonnerie minute repeater, and confirmed it round to collectors and types, touchdown him a contract to provide 5 actions for Audemars Piguet. He delivered these over a lot of the Nineteen Eighties, with the primary delivered in 1982 and the ultimate one in 1988.
The very subsequent yr “Philippe Dufour,” the model, was launched when Dufour launched this very watch up for public sale, the Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie No. 1. It was the very first watch to ever bear the Philippe Dufour title, and the sale of this watch is what repaid Dufour for his funding into himself, permitting him to proceed as an impartial watchmaker.
Motion of the Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie No. 1 (photograph courtesy Phillips)
What’s extra, that is the solely Grande et Petite Sonnerie pocket watch that Dufour ever made together with his title on it, so not solely is it the No. 1 Philippe Dufour it’s the No. 1 Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie pocket watch, a really one-of-one distinctive piece. This single watch represents three completely different firsts and is the genesis of Philippe Dufour as an impartial maker.
The belief of this grande et petite sonnerie is the fruits of years of earlier arduous work and craftsmanship and took greater than 2,000 hours. That is the very first time this piece has been seen at public sale because it has remained within the assortment of the primary proprietor since its completion in 1989.
That represents two extra firsts: Dufour’s first consumer as an impartial model and his first watch being auctioned for the primary time.
That is historic in not less than 5 alternative ways and units the tone as to why the Phillips Geneva Watch Public sale: XIV was an occasion for the report books.
For extra data, please go to www.phillips.com/element/philippe-dufour/CH080221/145.
Fast Details Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie Pocket Watch No. 1
Case: 60 mm, 18-karat yellow gold
Motion: guide wound handmade caliber, 18,000 vph/2.5 Hz frequency, 34 jewels
Features: hours, minutes, seconds; grande et petite sonnerie
Limitation: considered one of one, distinctive piece
Manufacturing yr: 1989
Public sale estimate: CHF 400,000 – 800,000
Outcome: CHF 2,329,000 (together with purchaser’s premium)
Phillips Lot 14: Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch No. 1, 1992
From the very first watch Philippe Dufour created, we transfer to the very first wristwatch Philippe Dufour created. The second historic piece on this public sale is the very subsequent watch that Dufour made after promoting the Grande et Petite Sonnerie pocket watch. Understanding that if he was to be considered a severe watchmaker and to set himself aside, Dufour selected to make a splash together with his first wristwatch.
Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch No. 1 (photograph courtesy Phillips)
Having accomplished seven grande et petite sonnerie actions during the last decade, Dufour spent two and a half years miniaturizing the motion to suit inside a wristwatch, the primary time in historical past this had been efficiently carried out. At Baselworld 1992, Dufour launched this actual watch, the Grande et Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch No. 1, the primary wristwatch to include the holy grail of chiming actions.
Making eight grande sonnerie wristwatches through the years, Dufour’s beautiful and unsurpassed hand-finishing turned extra well known, resulting in his rising reputation amongst impartial watchmakers within the Nineteen Nineties. The launch in 1992 coincided with Dufour becoming a member of the AHCI (Académie des Horlogers et Créatures Indépendants) and marked a turning level in each the trade and Dufour’s profession.
Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch No. 1 on the wrist
Earlier than 1992, Dufour was certainly amongst a choose group of extraordinarily proficient watchmakers, however after the launch of the Grande et Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch, Dufour stood aside as one of many best. That is the watch to mark that. It has been in the identical assortment as his earlier No. 1 and was seen right here for the primary time at public sale.
The public sale estimate for this piece was conservative at one to 2 million Swiss francs. That is some huge cash, however earlier in 2021 the No. 3 model of this watch fetched a whopping $7.63 million. The consequence landed within the center, which isn’t so simply defined in our view.
For extra data, please go to www.phillips.com/element/philippe-dufour/CH080221/14.
Fast Details Philippe Dufour Grande et Petite Sonnerie Wristwatch No. 1
Case: 41 mm, 18-karat yellow gold
Motion: guide wound handmade caliber, 35 jewels
Features: hours, minutes, seconds; grande et petite sonnerie
Limitation: No. 1 of eight items
Manufacturing yr: 1992
Public sale estimate: CHF 1,000,000 – 2,000,000
Outcome: 4,749,000 Swiss francs (together with purchaser’s premium)
Phillips Lot 190: Philippe Dufour Duality No. 8, 1996
The third watch on this public sale additionally represents a milestone because the third watch that Philippe Dufour developed: the Duality. It was additionally one other world premiere because it was the primary wristwatch to include a double escapement compensated by way of a differential gear. It was impressed by a college watch Dufour had seen whereas finding out at École d’Horlogerie de la Vallée de Joux that had a single gear prepare delivering energy to 2 escapements by way of a differential.
As he did with the grande et petite sonnerie, Dufour set himself the duty of miniaturizing the mechanism to be used in a wristwatch, and the Duality was born.
Philippe Dufour Duality on the wrist (photograph courtesy Phillips)
When it launched, Dufour had initially deliberate to make 25 actions, however he hit a wrinkle. As a result of it was nonetheless the mid-Nineteen Nineties, the watch amassing group wasn’t but as gung ho on sophisticated avant-garde mechanics and other people didn’t absolutely comprehend simply what Dufour had achieved (the F.P. Journe Resonance, one other twin escapement wristwatch, was nonetheless 4 years away).
Based on Dufour it was additionally very tough to assemble and regulate, so attributable to these mixed elements the deliberate 25 was simply 9 watches. He made the preliminary prototype, No. 00, after which eight further actions, with No. 8 being the final Duality he ever accomplished.
View by the show again to the motion of the Philippe Dufour Duality
That makes this watch each a primary AND a final, the very first wristwatch with a twin escapement and the final instance of it that Dufour ever made. These watches have exploded in fascination through the years however attributable to their rarity and the truth that collectors not often half with them, it’s an expertise to simply see one, not to mention have the prospect to bid on one at public sale. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to see two in my life, and I undoubtedly felt the significance of holding such a uncommon masterpiece.
The Duality additionally set the tone for the “easy” watches that Dufour would go on to provide, establishing a normal aesthetic and expectation of subdued excellence and under-the-radar fashion. For those who don’t know who Philippe Dufour is you may gloss proper over considered one of his watches, possibly pausing to say, “good watch.” But when you already know, and also you see a Duality with the offset subdial for seconds at 7:30, you cease no matter you might be doing and you are taking a better look.
This watch was additionally a part of the identical single assortment affording us the chance to see all of Dufour’s creations.
For extra data, please go to www.phillips.com/element/philippe-dufour/CH080221/190.
Fast Details Philippe Dufour Duality No. 8
Case: 35.5 mm, 18-karat pink gold
Motion: guide wound handmade Caliber 10 with twin escapements linked by way of differential, 30 x 4 mm, 40 jewels
Features: hours, minutes, seconds
Limitation: 9 items
Manufacturing yr: 1996
Public sale estimate: CHF 800,000 – 1,600,000
Outcome: CHF 3,660,000 (together with purchaser’s premium)
Phillips Lot 115: Philippe Dufour Simplicity No. 57, 2004
Within the yr 2000, 12 years after Philippe Dufour debuted the primary watch to bear his title, he launched the as-of-yet final mannequin to bear his title: the Simplicity. This watch is by far essentially the most well-known as a result of it was restricted to 200 actions, greater than 20 occasions as many items as prior fashions and ten occasions as many watches as he had ever produced. By this time, nonetheless, Dufour’s reputation and legendary standing had been cemented in collectors’ minds and hearts, and the gathering bought out comparatively shortly.
Philippe Dufour Simplicity
However since Dufour nonetheless labored alone, that restricted version equated to years of labor and an eventual ready record of not less than a decade. This watch has been extremely wanted for a very long time, and the one approach anybody may get their arms on one is when a uncommon piece would present up at public sale.
With this piece being No. 57 it’s the least uncommon of the items up for public sale, however solely insomuch because it isn’t the primary or final of a mannequin run. It nonetheless concludes all the Philippe Dufour assortment and represents greater than a decade and a half of the grasp watchmaker’s efforts.
Philippe Dufour Simplicity on the wrist (photograph courtesy Phillips)
The Simplicity was provided in two sizes, the unique 34-millimeter and the later 37-millimeter case, of which that is the latter. It got here in pink or white gold, platinum, and one metal variation. This Simplicity is housed in a platinum case and contains a hand-guilloche dial, usually thought-about one of the vital fascinating combos.
This watch was additionally a part of the identical assortment as the opposite items, representing the one full assortment that existed on the planet since this Grande et Petite Sonnerie pocket watch is the one one in existence.
For extra data, please go to www.phillips.com/element/philippe-dufour/CH080221/115.
Fast Details Philippe Dufour Simplicity No. 57
Case: 37 mm, platinum
Motion: guide wound handmade caliber, 21 jewels
Features: hours, minutes, seconds
Limitation: 200 items within the authentic run
Manufacturing yr: 2004
Public sale estimate: CHF 250,000 – 500,000
Outcome: CHF 756,000 (together with purchaser’s premium)
Conclusion
This public sale represents the primary time all the Philippe Dufour assortment has been seen at public sale, a historic second for impartial watchmaking as an entire. Each solo watchmaker and impartial model adopted within the footsteps of Philippe Dufour indirectly, with most of the most profitable and proficient impartial watchmakers having discovered from the grasp himself, who is understood to be beneficiant with sharing information and hard-earned abilities.
These timepieces are a part of the start of the trendy impartial watchmaking motion and exhibit how profitable one might be making just a few watches to the best ranges as an alternative of promoting abilities to the larger manufacturers.
Among the concepts that Dufour put into his watches discovered their approach into different watchmakers’ work, and the ethos of custom, ardour, and adherence to perfection (or not less than striving for perfection) has been part of a few of the most unique impartial watchmakers’ beliefs.
Lastly, the success of impartial watchmakers is largely because of the schooling and consciousness made attainable by the extent of watchmaking to which Dufour has carried out. He is named the very best hand-finisher within the trade. His mere presence elevates the status and worth of all impartial watchmakers who put arduous work and hand-craftsmanship into their items.
And, in a twist, he has additionally been part of what has pushed bigger manufacturers to reinvest within the abilities and knowhow required to make items to the (tried) Dufour stage, thereby elevating all the trade with lower than 300 watches.
To see the total public sale catalogue from the occasion, please go to www.phillips.com/auctions/public sale/CH080221.
You may additionally take pleasure in:
Why Philippe Dufour Issues. And It’s Not A Secret
Behind The Lens: Philippe Dufour Duality
Behind The Lens: The Philippe Dufour Simplicity
Philippe Dufour’s Daughter Daniela Makes Her First Simplicity (Plus Video)
Philippe Dufour Simplicity Deconstructed By The Bare Watchmaker
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