chintu
505
Sotheby’s Auction Results - Dufour
Major price discovery witnessed for Philippe Dufour Simplicity at Sotheby’s auction of Oct9,2020
The first Simplicity in WG sl.no.68 fetched USD 455,000 excluding the 20% buyer’s premium.
The second Simplicity in Platinum sl.no.100 fetched USD 662,000 excluding buyer’s premium.
Truly Dufour has become a holy grail watch even for the uber rich, with such astronomical prices.
On the other side a fabulous platinum secular perpetual calendar wrist watch ( year 1996) from Svend Andersen went for a low USD 12,900!!!!!!The secular perpetual is programmed upto year 2400.
The HM1 in Titanium, a 2007 year limited edition of 10 series after the first horological machine ( HM1) that heralded the arrival MB&F sold at a very very modest USD 45,000 excluding buyer’s premium. The HM1 has some really acclaimed watchmakers that have contributed to its creation and these names read like a “who-is-who” of watchmaking.
I chose these three different independent watchmakers that have completely contrasting styles and yet focus on pure horology and create absolutely original works.
All three are members of AHCI.
The calibers in HM1 and the Simplicity are ground-up original creations and the Sevend Andersen one too I think is a hugely modified base caliber.
While I can appreciate the Simplicity for the beauty of the finishing and of course the great watchmaker that Dufour is, nevertheless the stratospheric prices have left me wondering as to how collectors decide to pay these prices.
Thoughts?
Cheers
Sotheby’s Auction Results - Dufour
Major price discovery witnessed for Philippe Dufour Simplicity at Sotheby’s auction of Oct9,2020 The first Simplicity in WG fetched USD 455,000 excluding the 20% buyer’s premium. The second Simplicity in Platinum fetched USD 662,000 excluding buyer’s pr...
I think your points are completely correct.
Your examples point out perfectly that name is gaining too much importance. I’m almost feeling a kind of fatigue because of this “trend”.
Tnx
In fact it would be interesting note that the HM1 has an automatic movement that builds a power reserve of a whopping 175 hours. I cannot recall any other automatic movement that can claim this level of power reserve. The 10 day movements in patek5100 or ...
Minor correction
Octa Calendrier from FPJourne is an automatic with 120hours power reserve.
I find the prices paid for the Simplicity
particularly disturbing since Philip Dufour has just announced that he will be producing 20 new Simplicity watches to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Simplicity. He has not decided on the price yet but with these auction prices, he must be tempted...
Agree my friend ,
Ofcourse a PD will be a grail watch for many including me but to pay such a huge premium even like you said 300k for a limited of 20 pieces is a bit to much imho . Looking at this i really think a Rexhepi is just a bargain then 😉
Absolutely!
Your Chronometre Contemporain is an absolute bargain relatively especially with its limited numbers!
And Kudoke, Dornblueth, and more...
Some real value-plays are out there amongst independents. Prices are still reasonable. Names that I can heartily recommend are the artisanal independents like Stefan Kudoke ( gphg awardee), Dornbluth ( quintus ; inhouse caliber driven), Beat Haldiman ( wi...
Agree with everything you said.
There are a few in your list that are in my collection too . All amazing and relatively affordable masterpieces imho. I really don’t think you need to spend a large amount like 500k to get a amazing watch from a great watchmaker unless money isn’t a probl...
Disconnect between market and intrinsic value is just as bad with Dufour as it is with steel sports watches and other hype inflated pieces.
I “get” the attraction with Dufour but it seems many people believe these watches to be something more than they actually are in terms of the “handmade” story.
You also know thats likely pocket change for the buyer..
Its a lovely watch so if i had more money then i could ever spend why not and throw in a £50 mill Picasso for funsies.
A simple case of too much wealth chasing too few watches.
And this is child’s play compared to the art world.
I would have to politely disagree
The Simplicity has fetched such astronomical prices not just due to its rarity but due to what the buyers have perceived to be the very best in a hand finished movement. A Patek Calatrava produced in limited numbers would never command such prices (and I ...
Hundreds..
Dufour initially produced some 200 plus Simplicity watches and most were consumed by knowledgeable Japanese collectors. Perhaps another 100 or so could have been produced over time for those on the subscription waiting lists. The Duality which used the co...
Could it the wrong people are bidding and ...
Winning them? IMO, Dufour has earned his reputation, but these prices are excessive.
Not to take this off topic but...
...just to make a small correcting. The prices list and achieved are inclusive of the buyer's premium.