Philippe Dufour
A refined, highly coveted, and extremely rare pink gold wristwatch with subsidiary seconds, certificate of origin, and presentation box
Manufacturer : Philippe Dufour
Year : 2011
Movement No : No. 199
Model Name : Simplicity
Material : 18K pink gold
Calibre : Manual, cal. 11, 21 jewels
Bracelet/Strap : Leather
Clasp/Buckle : 18K pink gold Philippe Dufour pin buckle
Dimensions : 37mm Diameter
Signed : Case, dial, movement, and buckle signed
Accessories : Accompanied by Philippe Dufour international guarantee and certificate of origin dated February 2011, Philippe Dufour crocodile strap, fitted presentation box, outer box, and product literature Often seen with a pipe in one hand, a loupe on his forehead, and watches strapped to either wrist, Philippe Dufour is, simply and unequivocally, a living legend of horology. Not only has he produced some of the finest hand-finished watches of the modern era, but he does so with no marketing, no self-promotion, each year creating a handful of the tiny masterpieces for which he has become so celebrated.
Following graduation from the Ecole d’Horlogerie in the Vallée de Joux, Dufour mastered his skills working for Jaeger-LeCoultre, Gérald Genta, and Audemars Piguet, specializing in complications. In 1992, as an independent watchmaker, he introduced the world’s first wristwatch with Grande and Petite Sonnerie.
The Simplicity model was introduced in 2000 as a tribute to traditional Swiss watchmaking, with each timepiece being created and assembled entirely by hand. The model was produced in different variations, with platinum, pink, or white gold cases and two case sizes: 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 200. Currently, 205 pieces of the original Simplicity are known to have been produced before its discontinuation. In 2020, Dufour announced a last run of 20 Simplicity models in celebration of the model’s 20th anniversary. These anniversary pieces feature a hinged caseback and a different dial to the non- anniversary models.
This pink gold Simplicity in a 37mm diameter case features a stunning guilloché dial with applied pink gold numerals. Originally sold in 2011, only two examples of the larger size pink gold Simplicity with guilloché dial have appeared at auction, with an additional example known to the market. The extraordinary appearance of this iteration of Dufour’s take on the ultimate gentleman’s watch is fresh-to-the-market and complete with all accessories, from one of the most esteemed collectors of the modern era.
