Watchcph
284
Yes, I think so too.
Jun 17, 2021,08:22 AM
He passed away too soon. His accomplishments with the H4, his double wheel remontoire tourbillion and his work together with Peter Baumberger are amazing, but not much made under his name, so largely incognito in the wider watch population.
It is interesting to speculate if there would even be a co-axial movement without his help?
Yes, the movement is a FP with a perpetual module also made and finished by Derek. I tell you the finish on those parts under the dial is fantastic.
But what you see is made by him. Case, dial and hands.
Funny that when you look at a Dufour Simplicity from the front, none of the parts are made by him, but it bears his name. Its the exact opposite with Derek. His name is nowhere but his touch is everywhere ;-)
In order to produce a volume of ca. 175 ref. 2, they needed assistance or an ebauche of a very high standard like this. Sourcing these was a good decision and way before the notion of "inhouse" was invented. Just the way to do it if you were to produce more than a couple. Just like the millenium watches.
I actually like the way UJ has kept this way of outsourcing work. Inhouse seems to has taken precedence of quality in many minds, which I find unfortunate.