Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation Donates a Scanner to the Vallée de Joux Hospital

The Vallée de Joux, home to the Dufour family and known worldwide for its watchmaking, is a Swiss valley where thousands of residents live. Despite its international fame, the valley struggles to maintain its healthcare infrastructure and public services.

Established in the heart of the region, the Vallée de Joux Hospital, where Philippe Dufour was born in 1948, has existed for nearly a century. It has become a recognized health center, serving the regional population with comprehensive healthcare facilities, including a medical center, maternity ward, 24/7 emergency room, and integrated community care such as home healthcare services and an elderly care facility.

With a significant but isolated population (7,000 residents and over 8,000 cross-border workers daily), this hospital plays a crucial role in the regional healthcare infrastructure. The stakes are high, especially in maintaining 24/7 emergency services.

Today, the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation announces the donation of a scanner to the Vallée de Joux Hospital, in partnership with the Paul-Edouard Piguet Foundation and the Louis Napoléon Foundation. This donation reflects the Foundation’s commitment to supporting urgent humanitarian needs both locally and internationally, including projects in Madagascar and Peru focusing on community aid and education.

Dr. Naiken, Medical Director and Chief Surgeon of the Vallée de Joux Health Center, commented: “The Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation is our largest donor. Thanks to the scanner funded in partnership with the Paul-Edouard Piguet Foundation and the Louis Napoléon Foundation, our hospital now has essential technical equipment for reliable diagnostics, offering crucial time savings and better patient care, especially in life-threatening situations. This scanner arrives at an opportune moment in our hospital planning, enabling us to meet the criteria for maintaining 24/7 emergency services. It is a relief for both the local population and our medical team, who can avoid transferring patients far from their homes.” Since the installation of the scanner in February, the Vallée de Joux Health Center has already conducted 296 exams.

The donation of the scanner by the Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour Foundation is more than just about support for the hospital; it shows a deep understanding of the region’s challenges.

Philippe and Elisabeth Dufour stated: “Our family has a strong connection with this hospital, and we know how much this establishment is supported by a fantastic team, led by Dr. Naiken, who dedicates his energy and skills to keeping it operational for the entire Vallée de Joux population. We need to maintain a hospital here with 24/7 emergency services. Thanks to this scanner, we can detect, identify, and treat more effectively, saving many families from long distances and separation. Our goal was to contribute to this hospital, and we are happy to do so.”

Helping, giving, and supporting are important human actions that demonstrate our solidarity with those in need. These actions can have a significant impact and bring hope and comfort. It is important to remember that even small actions can positively impact others’ lives. We do not claim to solve all problems, but we sincerely wish to do what we can to provide solutions, equipment, and support by contributing our part. As the saying goes, Small streams make big rivers.”

The Dufour family thanks all their friends and partners, especially Claude Sfeir, who was present at a critical time, and all their clients and horology enthusiasts without whom the Foundation would not have been possible.

About Philippe Dufour SA

Born in Switzerland in 1948, Philippe Dufour graduated from the Vallée de Joux Watchmaking School in 1967 and began his career repairing and restoring antique pocket watches. In 1982, his excellence led Audemars Piguet to commission five Grande Sonnerie pocket watch movements, the last delivered in 1988.

In 1992, building on his mastery of the Grande Sonnerie complication, Philippe Dufour presented the world’s first wristwatch to feature a minute repeater movement comprising both a Grande and Petite Sonnerie – one of the most challenging horological complications to construct, especially in terms of fitting it into the confines of a wristwatch case. Following the success of this extraordinary world first, which marked a turning point in the recognition of his supreme watchmaking talent and the establishment of the Philippe Dufour brand, his next model, named ‘Duality,’ was launched in 1996 as the first wristwatch with a double escapement. In 2000, Philippe Dufour introduced ‘Simplicity,’ his most well-known model among collectors and the only current production model.

In July 2022, Philippe Dufour transformed his sole proprietorship into Philippe Dufour SA, with 100% of the capital still exclusively held by the Dufour family. The company has maintained total financial independence since its inception, with no external financing or partners.

Today, Philippe Dufour SA is the only legal entity for selling Philippe Dufour watches, marketed directly to collectors and clients.