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Chat with Mr. Philippe Dufour
"Watchmaking is universal."
Chat with Mr. Philippe Dufour
April 20, 2007 Geneve
Ming (Grisar): [Email address suppressed for privacy]
Mr. Philippe Dufour is unarguably one of the most respected, talented and successful independent watchmaker s in the world. His Simplicity is probably the best finished time-only watch ever available. During the 2007 SIHH exhibition in Geneve, I had the opportunity to have a nice chat with the world-famous master watchmaker.
Mr. Dufour, you yourself and your Simplicity are very well known among enthusiasts in Asia. The Simplicity is always regarded as the ultimate dress watch and as a benchmark in terms of finishing. Would you please tell me something about your Simplicity, your team and yourself?
Thank you for your nice words. Please go ahead.
How many Simplicities have you created in total?
130 pieces in total since 2000.
How many Simplicities are you going to create in the next years?
I will build 70 pieces more in total until 2010. Therefore there will be 200 Simplicities in total by 2010 and no more orders will be taken.
Why do not you take more orders for Simplicity despite very high demand?
200 pieces will be made and I am also going to develop something new.
In which direction are you going to develop your new watches? Something simple or complications?
I am sorry that I cannot give you more development/design details now, but the new development is about complications.
Do you have a plan to increase your production capacity?
Yes, but it is very difficult.
There will not be significant increase in production volume.
How many employees do you have in your workshop?
We are four include myself.
Do you plan to hire some more watchmakers to help you in the workshop?
Yes, I am planning to hire one to two highly qualified watchmaker(s).
Only one to two more watchmaker(s)?
Yes, because we are creating the best finished watches and it would be very difficult for me to control the quality if I have too many watchmakers.
Do you finish every single watch by yourself?
Yes, I do. I have finished and will still finish all watches by myself.
Where did you sell most of your watches?
Asia. There are a lot of very demanding collectors living in Asia. 70% of my Simplicities were sold there. Japan has the biggest share, following by Singapore and Taiwan.
There are also private collectors in France, Switzerland, Germany and the United States.
I have a strong psychological link with my watches; they are just like my babies. Therefore, I know exactly who bought my watches.
If people are interested in your watches, where can they order them?
My watches can be ordered in Taipei, Singapore and Tokyo.
But I take no more orders for the Simplicity anymore, as I mentioned.
Do you plan to sell your creations on the mainland Chinese market?
Yes, I do. But as you know, the problem is that our capacity is very very limited.
Every mechanical watch is required to be serviced every 3-5 years. Where can the Simplicity owners go to have their watches serviced?
They can send their watches to the "dealers" in Japan, Singapore or Taiwan or they can send it directly to me. I will service or repair them.
A service person is already planned in Asia, most probably in Japan where I sold most watches. He/she should be able to do the necessary service work.
Simplicity is not a complicated watch, instead it is very simple. A well-trained service watchmaker with a lot of care can easily carry out the service work.
Since your watches are very popular among collectors in Asia. Do you travel to Asia frequently?
Yes, for example, I was in Japan for two weeks. During the trip I was invited to teach for 20 students in a private watch-making school.
In September this year, I am going to Singapore again.
Do you value your trips in Asia?
Yes, very much. I have learned a lot there. For example, I spent ten days in Singapore once and during the trip I talked with collectors, watch makers and business managers. I learned needs and wants of very demanding Asian collectors; I learned marketing and doing business in Asia. (Laugh)
Through communicating with collectors, designing and re-designing watches, manufacturing and finishing parts and finding new home for my watches, I have gained a lot of happiness.
We have read that your daughter is working with you?
Yes, she worked in my workshop for two and a half years, but she decided to leave.
Oh...why and what is she doing now?
Well, you know, we both have very strong personalities. We have sometimes very different ideas on design, technology and other issues.
She is now working for Patek Philippe in Le Sentier.
Do you think that she will come back one day?
Probably (laugh).
Where had you worked before you opened your own workshop?
I had worked for Jaeger LeCoultre as well as Audemars Piguet and Gerald Genta.
Which watch do you wear today?
Simplicity and Lange Datograph.
Datograph?
Yes, it is really a nice and honestly-made watch and I like it very much.
Could you tell me a little about your Datograph?
Yes, of course. This is the only new watch I bought and it is indeed a very good watch. I bought it with a regular authorized dealer as a normal customer. By the time, there was only platinum version available and the manufacture took my special order and cased it in pink gold.
Do you like pink gold better than platinum?
Well, I could not afford a platinum case. (laugh)
Because of that unique combination (Dato in pink gold), people call it Dato-Dufour instead of Datograph. (laugh)
We read about that you had been frequently invited to events hold by A. Lange & Söhne? How do you have such a strong connection with the manufacture in Glasshütte, Germany?
There are only few real manufactures now and even fewer are really good and honest. Lange has earned its top position in a very short time. The manufacture excels in design, finish and technology.
It is very difficult for a manufacture to keep its quality and finishing in such a high level when they produce so many watches. (Note: Lange makes around 5.000 pieces p.a., Patek Philippe around 30.000 watches p.a. and Rolex around 800.000 pieces p.a.)
Beside Lange-Dufour, do you own some other watches?
Not many. I have several vintage LeCoultres.
How would you describe yourself?
Honest, humble and open.
I am willing to talk to different people, travel to different cultures.
Thank you very much for your time and the interview!
Note: for more details on Mr. Philippe Dufour and Simplicity: dufourwatches.free.fr
Chat with Mr. Philippe Dufour
Thank you so much Grisar for sharing this insightful interview!
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