This December, Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is proud to offer what can be considered the most important wristwatch by Philippe Dufour ever to appear at auction — a unique, previously unknown Grande & Petite Sonnerie minute repeating wristwatch with open dial made of transparent sapphire crystal. Completely unique and one of only three open-dial examples of the model in existence; it is also the first of its kind to be offered for sale publicly. Featured as the star lot of The New York Watch Auction: XI on 7-8 December, the watch is expected to realize in excess of $2 million, the highest estimate ever assigned to a timepiece at Phillips New York. With this announcement, Phillips is proud to confirm that exceptional examples of all three of Philippe Dufour’s wristwatch models will be offered together in one season. A unique Duality with serial number 10 will be offered in Geneva on 8 November during Reloaded: The Rebirth of Mechanical Watchmaking, 1980-1999, and a 37mm Simplicity in 18 karat rose gold will be offered in addition to the Grande & Petite Sonnerie in The New York Watch Auction: XI.
Paul Boutros, Deputy Chairman and Head of Watches, Americas, said, “Introduced in 1992, Philippe Dufour’s Grande & Petite Sonnerie model was the world’s first wristwatch with these complications — a milestone achievement in the history of watchmaking. Since the watch’s introduction 33 years ago, astonishingly, only eight examples have ever been produced, making it the rarest Dufour wristwatch model. Of these eight examples, only three were made with an open dial allowing the striking mechanism to be viewed at all times. The watch that Phillips has the privilege of offering this December, No. 07, is a completely unique open dial example, and the only one ever fitted within Dufour’s half-hunter case – the most elaborate case ever offered by Philippe Dufour. The Grande & Petite Sonnerie being offered during Phillips’ New York Watch Auction: XI sale can be considered not only one of the most important Philippe Dufour watches ever made, but also, one of the world’s most important timepieces across all brands and eras. It is a magnificent and groundbreaking timepiece representing the pinnacle of hand-made horological artistry.”
Over his entire career, Philippe Dufour has only produced approximately 250 watches in total, making any of his exquisitely finished timepieces extremely rare and sought after. After years of working with prestigious watchmakers, master watchmaker Philippe Dufour set out to create timepieces under his own name. Recognizing the need to stand out, Dufour embarked on a revolutionary journey to craft the world’s first-ever Grande & Petite Sonnerie wristwatch.
Building on his prior work, which included the creation of five Grande & Petite Sonnerie pocket watches for Audemars Piguet, Dufour successfully miniaturized this intricate mechanism for the wrist. Every element of Dufour’s watches reflects his dedication to tradition and craftsmanship. From hand-finished Geneva stripes to mirror-polished bevels, every component showcases painstaking detail. This commitment is evident in his 1992 debut of the Grande & Petite Sonnerie wristwatch with a grand feu enamel dial and hinged caseback, and his 1999 release of an open, sapphire crystal dial version, offering a view of the movement from both sides.
The watch is comprised of over 480 hand-finished parts and, despite its complexity, is designed for ease of use, featuring intuitive controls for winding and setting the chimes. The case architecture is Dufour’s most elaborate and coveted, with the slides that activate the sonnerie placed on the side of the case, and a solid, hunter-style, hinged caseback that permits the owner to easily reveal and admire the hidden movement easily. The No. 7 Grande & Petite Sonnerie is the only example ever made with an open dial and hinged caseback.
The Dufour Grande & Petite Sonnerie is the rarest and most complicated of all models ever made by Philippe Dufour. With the present unique example being the only one combining the early style hunter case and sapphire crystal “open” dial – it is most certainly amongst the most important timepieces ever produced. Offered by the original owner, this watch is preserved in exemplary condition with its original certificate and presentation box.
Auction: 7-8 December 2024
Auction viewing: 4-6 December 2024
Location: 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022
