Philippe Dufour / Duality
Philippe Dufour Duality
Collection profile · 1996
Philippe Dufour’s Duality is the landmark wristwatch that brought a dual independent escapement system into a serially produced wristwatch, combining two balances through a differential in a compact hand-finished movement and becoming one of the defining modern independent watchmaking creations.
Why it matters
The Duality matters because it turned a historically rare double-regulator concept into a wearable wristwatch executed to Philippe Dufour’s finishing standards, and it helped define the template for modern independent haute horlogerie as both a technical and artisanal pursuit.
Key references
Collection timeline
- 1996 — Philippe Dufour’s official creation history states that the Duality was born in 1996.
- 1996 — Philippe Dufour’s awards page lists a Special Jury Prize from Montres Passions and Uhren Welt for the Duality.
- 2000 — Dufour’s official history states that only nine examples of the Duality were ultimately made.
FAQ
When was the Philippe Dufour Duality introduced?
Philippe Dufour’s official site states that the Duality was born in 1996, and the brand’s awards page also ties the model to a 1996 Special Jury Prize.
How many Philippe Dufour Duality watches were made?
Philippe Dufour’s official history states that nine examples were made, and Christie’s repeats that only nine were ultimately manufactured despite an originally larger planned series.
More from Philippe Dufour
- 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.
- Grande Sonnerie — A wristwatch featuring a grande and petite sonnerie striking mechanism — one of the rarest and most complex complications in horology.