{"product_id":"simplicity-white-gold","title":"Simplicity | White Gold","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn example sitting just below the 200 mark, this piece is a relatively more recent example of Philippe Dufour's Simplicity series. The Simplicity brought Dufour’s exceptional craftsmanship to a wider audience, embodying the traditional movement architecture and artisanal finishing of the Vallée de Joux from 1850 to 1920, often regarded as the golden age of Swiss watchmaking. This 37mm white gold model features a solid silver dial with a guilloché centre, while the sapphire caseback reveals calibre 11, a thoroughly reworked version of the historically significant Valjoux VZSS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- SECTION BREAK --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEarly on, Philippe Dufour’s friend, watchmaker Antoine Preziuso alerted him to the dedicated following in Japan for his classically styled and mechanically complex craft. Dufour created the Simplicity, a watch that catered to the sensitivities of that market, as a way to thank Japanese enthusiasts for supporting his vision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 2000 and the present day, it is understood that around 220 Simplicities have been created, and according to Dufour, nearly 120 of them are in Japan. Dufour continues to work on the series, and it is believed that there are a few clients still waiting to receive their watches. More recently, the watchmaker committed to creating further examples in a series to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Simplicity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove all, Dufour wanted to make a watch that he would wear. He says, recalling his thoughts at the time, \"I wanted to make a simple watch to please myself. I took inspiration mostly from watches made in the 50s and 60s, and back then, nearly all the watches had 30mm movements for their watches, so I took inspiration from these types of very classical pieces.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular example is an early piece numbering close to the 200s, roughly approaching the tail end of the series, with this piece being delivered in 2012. Nearly a decade later, the watch remains in excellent condition, and throughout all these years, Dufour's work remains an impeccable example of independent watchmaking in the traditional style. The three-part case has a rounded bezel and a caseback rim. These parts sandwich a slim midcase that also has a curved profile. The point where the long, slim lugs meet the midcase is clearly defined. The substantial, knurled crown is crafted from white gold and is unsigned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe classically beautiful case is paired with a solid silver dial with a guilloché adorned centre in a wave-like pattern. This section is hemmed by a sauté piqué rim, interrupted only by the overlapping subsidiary seconds register. This register has an engine turning in a concentric circular pattern, with a printed chapter of black markers. The outer section of the silver dial has a sunburst quality, featuring a black chemin de fer minutes track followed by an applied quarter of Arabic numerals. The other hours are plied by faceted markers. All hour markers have been mirror polished to perfection. The hours and minutes hands are faceted dauphine-style, while the second’s indicator is of a feuille form. A discreet cartouche in the central portion of the dial wears the maker’s mark, while the place of origin and the dial maker’s mark are printed just under the seconds register.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVisible through the exhibition case is a thoroughly reimagined iteration of the Valjoux calibre VZSS, a movement that has powered many of the finest watches over the last century. As is the maker’s style, the Calibre 11 is superlative both in its construction and finishing. It is laid out to closely resemble pieces created in the Vallée du Joux, during the early 20th century. The finishing is of course achieved entirely by hand, by utilising traditional tools and techniques. The bridges are made from rhodium-plated brass and finished with classic Geneva stripes. The seamless transition between the stripe and the angling on the side of the bridges demonstrates the watchmaker’s skill. It features a Breguet hairspring and a large balance wheel, with adjusting weights at the two arms for micro-timing. And there is no regulator, as all Philippe Dufour watches are free sprung. It has 52 hours of power reserve when fully wound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking back on his long history with creating these pieces, Dufour mentions: \"I would say every Simplicity has its own character. Because if I finish a movement on Monday, or on Friday, there will be some little differences. Most of the people cannot see the difference, but I know the difference.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- SECTION BREAK --\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCloser look \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eBrand:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003ePhilippe Dufour\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eModel:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003eSimplicity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eMovement:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003emanual-winding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003ehours, minutes, sub-seconds\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003edisplay back\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eCase material:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003ewhite gold\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eCase diameter:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003e37mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eCase thickness:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003e9mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eLug-to-lug:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003e46mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003esapphire front \u0026amp; back\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eStrap:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003ePhilippe Dufour black alligator strap, Philippe Dufour white gold pin buckle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eLug width:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003e19 x 16mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eYear:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003e2012\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"63\"\u003eAccompanying materials:\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd width=\"213\"\u003ePhilippe Dufour outer box \u0026amp; inner wooden box, certificate of origin \u0026amp; guarantee (dated)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eCondition\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Philippe Dufour Simplicity is in excellent overall condition. The case and lugs show light signs of wear, only very light superficial marks on the very surface of the material, more specifically on the right side of the bezel below the crown. The dial, hands, and movement are free of imperfections and have been well preserved. All hallmarks and engravings are well defined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eWarranty\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe watch comes with a two-year, limited warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Philippe Dufour","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64514850095481,"sku":"WWG_P4163","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0606\/5325\/files\/Philippe_Dufour___white_gold_A_Collected_Man_London_Thumbnail_00.jpg?v=1788939686","url":"https:\/\/www.acollectedman.com\/products\/simplicity-white-gold","provider":"A COLLECTED MAN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}