A silhouette that is truly unique, a man with a loupe on his head, puffing out smoke from his elegant pipe in his Atelier amongst the peaceful valley of Le Solliat in the Vallée de joux. Philippe Dufour is a name that’s foreign to none in the world of horology, a true living legend and guardian of traditional watchmaking in our times.

An independent watchmaker since the late 1970s, Dufour restored antique and vintage timepieces which led him ten years later to develop a very small series of pocket and grand sonnerie wrist watches, followed by the Duality, the world’s first wristwatch incorporating a double escapement.

After having proven his undeniable talent and expertise in creating ultra-complicated mechanisms, he set out in the year 2000 to create yet another icon. Classic, well-proportioned 37mm case, a three-handed timepiece, the Simplicity is a masterpiece.

The gentle flow of the bridges’ curves, the bold and alluring inward and outward angles, the hand applied Geneva waves and red rubies provide a seductive visual harmony. Needless to say that the decoration and assembly are done by hand explaining the fact that less than a dozen Simplicities per year left Dufour’s workshops in the Vallée de Joux. For the astute connoisseurs, everyday was a pleasure to wait, the craftsmanship of a Dufour timepiece is just divine. The present watch bearing movement number 113 belongs to the original Japanese collector who knew the importance and beauty of the Simplicity. Japan was known to have a large and passionate following since the early days, as a result 204 Simplicities that were made between 2000 and 2012, 120 of them were sold in Japan. The present white gold example preserved in an attractive condition remains together with its original certificate and presentation box. A legacy that’s unquestionable, a grail for collectors, a statement of horological craftsmanship, this is the time to obtain arguably the most coveted timepiece in the world.