A Unique Philippe Dufour Grande & Petite Sonnerie at The New York Watch Auction: XI

NEW YORK – 17 OCTOBER 2024 – 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.”

For more information, please visit phillips.com