Independents

The title was too eye-catching, sorry... I just have been to Shellman in Tokyo GInza, which was/is Japan's distributor of the major independent brands including Philippe Dufour, Haldimann, JDN, etc. I could fortunately meet Mr. Isogai, the CEO of Shellma,...  

Normally, I'm crazy for enamel dials, but in this case I like the guilloche center and dauphine hands of the white metal version better. Thanks for the pictures, Ken. It's not everyday that you get to see a Simplicity. Cheers, Daos

The Roman numeral dial is NOT enamel or even porcelain, according to Mr. Isogai. It is something else, fabricated. Well made, but not enamel. To me, I am okay with either one. If someone get tired of the either dial, Mr. Dufour would change it for you, as... 

It's a beautiful watch, but the engraved dial is more what I expect from a Simplicity. Thanks again, Ken! Cheers, Daos

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When you mention the suppliers, what do they supply? Anyway, that reminds me a story about another watch, which was dear to me. Same problems, same consequences. But, in this case, it was the dial. Are you speaking about the dial? Thanks for a very intere... 

But, yeah, those things that are often outsourced by independents. Ken

But also by a lot of Manufactures, by the way... Best, Nicolas

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everything fits. Of these two I prefer the enamel dial, even if I know it is not fired enamel. The other watch is somehow just too gray. Maybe it is the gold that gives more charator. To each his own. Thanks for this little report, we don't get to see Sim... 

White metal with Guilloche dial and Rose Gold with Faux enamel dial.....both stunning and nicely matched with the case. Personally, I prefer 34mm Guilloche Simplicity in WG since this is what Mr Dufour first created. For RG case, I prefer 37mm Roman numer... 

Shellman is a very interesting store - selling top quality vintage Patek and modern independent watchmaking - and Mr Isogai is a deeply knowledgeable man. They have/had a Jean-Daniel Nicolas on hand as well when I visited recently. In my conversations wit...  

Thanks JiaXian for the tip and photo. Vintage Patek and modern independent watchmaking, that's what I like!

I will be happily your guide Ken

I drooooooooooool *CL

NT

Thanks Ken for sharing. Wonderful pictures. Such a great pair ! My favorite is exactly the guilloche dial in WG or PT, paired with a faux enamel in RG, though I prefer 37mm to 34mm. How I wish I had ordered both five years before!

Always so pleasing to see pics of the Simplicity, and this pair is just outstanding! Also very interesting info. I did not realize that 70 of the first 100 were delivered to Japan. Also interesting to hear about the supplier issues. I have to say the guil... 

The supplier issues are something I never read about before. It makes the watch that much more of a treasure for all who own them. One can imagine M. Dufour throwing out dials... all aspects of his story and the story of these watches add more meaning and... 

It's great to see these two side-by-side. I must admit I was unaware of the Roman Numeral dial. Like Daos, I prefer the arabics with the guilloche dial, but if couse It's the other side of the watch I enjoy viewing the most. If I had to name a "grail", th... 

I love both of these Simplicty timepieces. If I were ever granted the privilege to acquire one of these timepieces from Philippe Dufour himself, I would have a hard time deciding which one I would want... Would I want it in gold with the white roman dial ... 

Thanks ken for writing up the article and seeing photos of both those stunning pieces. But should I ever be in a position (yea,in my dreams!!) to ever lay hands on one of Mr Dufour's stunning watches, then I would very much like the 37 white metal guilloc... 

Thanks for the spectacular pictures and post! What I would have given to have been there in your shoes as you tried these spectacular watches on! Thanks for the update and for keeping the love of Dufour watches alive on this page- he is simply the most st...