Philippe Dufour
Watchmaker
Le Solliat

« I do not consider myself an inventor. I like to do something different from others while remaining classic. Making watches is art, just as much as painting. »

After graduating in 1967, Philippe Dufour cut his teeth with various watchmakers then moved to Le Brassus to devote himself to watchmaking restoration. He created his brand in 1989. In 1992, his Grande Sonnerie watch caused a sensation at the Basel Fair.
His fame then became worldwide among lovers of fine watchmaking. Philippe Dufour is a member of various prestigious academies and juries.

« I’m pretty proud to say that – unlike cars – my Simplicities are worth twice as much the day after they’re purchased. »

His second watch, the Duality, a watch powered by two hearts. In 2000, he launched his Simplicity, a simple watch as its name suggests but whose degree of finish is such that it took 12 years to manufacture 200.
His project Naissance d’une montre, a project launched with Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey, aims to safeguard and transmit the excellence of watchmaking know-how.

Diploma

1967 Diploma in watchmaking, Sentier Technical School

Honors

2016 Vaudois Intangible Cultural Heritage Prize

2014 Tribute to talent, Foundation of Haute Horlogerie

2013 Special Jury Prize, Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix Foundation

1998 Gaïa Prize, International Watchmaking Museum

Connections

Watchonista October 24, 2014:
http://www.watchonista.com/fr/2914/watchonista-blog/actualites/gphg-2014-l%E2%80%99watcher-philippe-dufour-en-interview-la-voix-du-maitre

Watchonista February 21, 2014:
http://www.watchonista.com/2914/watchonista-blog/news/philippe-dufour-custodian-spirit-vallee-de-joux

GPHG November 21, 2013:
http://www.gphg.org/horology/fr/images/film/198

Journal Haute Horlogerie January 25, 2013:
http://journal.hautehorrie.org/fr/article/philippe-dufour-tourne-le-chapitre-de-la-simplicity/

RTS October 18, 2013:
http://www.rts.ch/emissions/passe-moi-les-jumelles/5303740-complications-sans-compromis.html

Haute Horlogerie Journal:
http://people.timezone.com/pchong/Dufour/05/philippe.html

Haute Horlogerie Journal:
http://www.thepurists.com/watch/features/interviews/dufour/

FAVJ:
http://www.favj.ch/site/?p=65002