Bukowskis – Daniel Roth/Philippe Dufour 2117, perpetual calendar N°0000

Auctions · · by Christian Bissener


Daniel Roth cushion-shaped yellow gold perpetual calendar, two-tone grey and silver dial, sub-dials and black alligator strap

A Daniel Roth reference 2117, the instantaneous perpetual calendar, is offered at Bukowskis on 15 April.

The watch is the “Numero 0000”. In our reading, it is the first example made with the newly developed sub-dial and hands indication for day and month. Earlier examples used a window-and-disc display for both, a system Roth and Dufour quickly found did not work properly, and they changed to the arrangement seen here. At the time, Daniel Roth was working with Philippe Dufour on the instantaneous perpetual mechanism, built on a Lemania 8810 base.

The serial number is what makes this piece special, together with its place in the 2117’s development. For anyone looking for a watch shaped by two legendary watchmakers, it is a rare opportunity.

The early Daniel Roth watches, such as the Rétrograde, the Tourbillon and the Chronographe, are becoming ever more collectible. The estimate of €23,000 to €42,000 strikes us as very conservative, and it will be interesting to see where the result lands.

Caseback of a yellow gold watch with engraved name and Numero 0000 on a textured metal back
Caseback engraved “Numero 0000”

Close-up of the caseback with engraved name and Numero 0000 above an openworked movement
Engraved caseback with a view of the movement

Yellow gold watch in a black leather presentation box with a spare strap and a gold pin
With its presentation box, spare strap and pin