Philippe Dufour
Le Solliat, Switzerland · Est. 1989
Founded by Philippe Dufour
Philippe Dufour is a Swiss master watchmaker based in Le Solliat in the Vallée de Joux, regarded as one of the greatest living watchmakers. His hand-crafted pieces — including the Grande et Petite Sonnerie, the Duality double-escapement watch, and the Simplicity — are considered benchmark examples of traditional haute horlogerie.
- Founded
- 1989
- Headquarters
- Le Solliat, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Ultra
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Simplicity — A hand-wound time-only watch considered one of the finest ever made — sublime hand-finishing, with fewer than 200 pieces produced in total.
- Duality — The world's first wristwatch with dual independent escapements, an extraordinary technical achievement limited to 9 pieces.
- Grande Sonnerie — A wristwatch featuring a grande and petite sonnerie striking mechanism — one of the rarest and most complex complications in horology.
Timeline
- 1978 — Philippe Dufour establishes himself as an independent watchmaker in the Vallée de Joux, initially restoring antique timepieces.
- 1992 — Creates the Grande Sonnerie wristwatch — one of only a handful ever made and a landmark in independent watchmaking.
- 1996 — Introduces the Duality — the first wristwatch with two independent escapements, limited to just 9 pieces.
- 2000 — Launches the Simplicity, a time-only watch with extraordinary hand-finishing that becomes one of the most coveted watches in the world.
- 2023 — Simplicity models regularly sell for over $1 million at auction, cementing Dufour's status as a living legend of horology.
- 2025 — Remains the most revered living independent watchmaker; Simplicity and Duality models continue to command record prices at auction, with pieces exceeding $1 million regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions about Philippe Dufour
- Why is Philippe Dufour so revered?
- He is considered one of the greatest living watchmakers. Every component is finished entirely by hand in his Vallée de Joux atelier, with an output of just a few watches per year.
- How much does a Simplicity cost?
- Originally around CHF 30,000, Simplicity watches now sell at auction for $500,000 to over $1 million, reflecting extreme rarity (fewer than 200 made) and unmatched finishing quality.