Independents

I had the pleasure to meet my old friend, Mr. Olivier Muller, the ex-CEO of Laurent Ferrier, who took me to his good friend and the one everyone knows here, Mr. Philippe Dufour. By the way, Mr. Muller is to become the Managing Director of L. Leroy (Montre...  

for the news about Olivier Muller, glad to know that he found a new position. I'm sure that he will bring a lot to his new company. Honestly, I was not sure that you would have been able to reach Geneva because it was such a mess in German airports last F... 

.. I left early Saturday morning! On Friday, we did those "Extra" activities :-) Thanks, Fx! Ken

Supreme post for this easy foggy Saturday morning Just lovely Thank you very much for all the insiders info ;) Best D

... it was really a treat for me, too! Cold, but well worth the detour.... Would love to go there again anytime! Hope you are having a great weekend, my friend! Ken

I took great pleasure in reading about your trip. Nearly everything I read about Ph.D teaches me something about horology. Thanks for the report. Cheers.

... and he is stick to it. Very traditional watchmaker, I reckon. Ken

is what we had yesterday as well. Together with an interesting wine ... :-) But you my friend did a great trip to "watch (nut) heaven" and in good company. I was already wondering why you are travelling for so "long", but now I can see why. Just perfect! ...  

... that I couldn't make it to Berlin this year..... Next year, let's drink that Jura wine together! Ken

people stick to their principles. Thank you for this very nice report. somehow feels a bit as I've been ther now. Best regards, Dirk

.... unfortunately for many of us :-) Ken

Hi Ken, Thank you for sharing. I visited once, in 1997, and it seems that nothing has changed in nearly 17 years. I hope to see Philippe for decades with his same spirit. Best Dje

.. those empty benches filled with energetic, skillful young watchmakers one day..... Ken

Great pictures and you write well....it was as if I were almost there. Would love to own a Simplicity/Duality one day :) Am I being too greedy? Best Sam

Simplicity, Duality - they will not be produced any more, meaning you have to pray that someone sell one day.... Good luck! Ken

... to take this trip. Writing about is the least I could do... Ken

Really great report and very well written. Thank you for sharing your journey with us! To be honest, I'm a bit jealous that you had the honour to meet Mr. Dufour in person ;) Kind regards. Christian

Yes, it is a great honor to spend time with him and he is very welcoming and accommodating.... Very nice gentleman..... (at least when he is not working :-)) Ken

it is really great to see Dufour's workshop yet again :) Never tire of it. And thanks for sharing what mr. Müller will be doing at L. Leroy (Curious to see how this reinvents itself). Glad you got to make this visit!!! And most of all, thanks for sharing ... 

.. his "next"... but then again, aren't we all? :-) Ken

I really worry that Mr D's art, skill and know how cant find too many successor. But really looking forward to what he has for us next in the coming years.

.... if I were a good enough watchmaker, I might try.... But it would be a tough road anyway.... His watches are so nice, like jewelry.... Ken

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... being self-introduced by the total strangers at Basel... :-) And even at his atelier, there came a young, possibly watchmaker-to-be, who stopped by and said hello to whom he gave his business card. Very friendly gentleman. Ken

Thanks for sharing your heavenly afternoon with us KIH!

... but, this is the community of all members :-) So, if PPro wins, everybody wins! Ken

It's always an education learning anything new from/ about Dufour. It is sad that he has no assistants! It reminds me that we all struggle in similar ways on the pedestrian level of just running a business with employees. That sort of pedestrian reality i... 

.. he seems to have a clear focus and know what to to now and next. He doesn't think he is missing anything (except for a few watchmakers who work for him), and he is on track of what he think he should go achieve.... Am I too biased? Maybe. But I didn't ... 

very informative

I am very envious that you have had this recent visit and very grateful that you have posted this thorough account of it! No one who has visited Mr. Dufour at his atelier can fail to be impressed and even inspired. Also great to see that Olivier is landin... 

.. yes, it was such a heavenly place for watchnuts like us..... Thank you, Mr. Dufour, and Mr. Muller! Ken

... another amazing report about an absolutely amazing watchmaker. Love the minute repeater... what a cool piece. And spot on at 11:05. Dig the bi-directional winding crown - one for the time's reserve, the other for the repeater's reserve. Tres bitchin',... 

.. needs power for ringing automatically at 00, 15, 30, and 45. So, unlike the minute repeaters which can be "charged" when needed, Grande Sonnerie requires the power stand by for ringing.... Anyhow, his craftsmanship, persistence to the quality is beyond... 

The fact I am enjoying I see wonderful photos of course was a beautiful day, but we have a good luck to watch. Thank you very much for the effort WTA

.. the weather was on my side during my stay in Geneva. Nice drive (still - after this, the temp will be far lower.....), and nice chat with nice gentlemen. What an afternoon.... Thank you!

such an smile creator report for the mind and soul of a purist . Faisal

.... to be there :-) Ken

Ah ah, always surprising to see my name on the homepage ! But I'm just another Olivier Müller - not a CEO, just a watchmaking journalist ! What is funny is that I dedicated an article to Philippe a couple of months earlier : We also did a photoshooting, ...  

... another Olivier Muller and we are "friends" on FB :-) I mistakenly send "friend request" long time ago... These things happen. Ken

Friends of my friends are also my friends ! Olivier & I are used to that, we receive calls and emails for each other. I think there's one difference, in so far as my last name, swiss, is spelled Müller, while Olivier's is Muller, without the "ü", I th...