Girard-Perregaux

THE QUEST FOR PRECISION

What makes a watch tick? And watchmakers spend days and nights on plans and developments?

It´s not always the flashy aspects of horology. A watch is first and foremost an instrument to tell time. And this primary function brought sleepless nights for generations of watchmakers, engineers and scientists. The simple things can be the most challenging ones and in this, to make a watch tick, for years and years, is not the smallest.

Among all aspects we regard "High Horology" today, the probably least spectacular is accuracy.
An accurate watch always used to be a synonym for excellence; it´s the basic function which inspired watchmakers to push horological frontiers and create sometimes surprising solutions.
To make a watch tick does not need much; a few wheels, a way of storing and releasing power and a method to indicate the time elapsed basically is all that makes a watch.
But simplification does have it´s challenges and, as said often, the devil is in the detail. Following "Pareto´s rules" of diminishing increase, improving a mechanism to achieve perfect function requires a lot more than easily apparent. And that´s what watchmaker generations spent their lives on; to find new solutions or production methods which don´t do more than just cause the watch to be more accurate.

The efforts spent in this field are phenomenal.
It may be surprising to know, as the pure function of a mechanism is a silent feature - it´s neither doing sounds or accounts for aesthetics. One can´t see accuracy in a single glimpse or feel it; one is left to experience over a longer period of time or sophisticated tools to measure it.
In time of spectacular designs, which sometimes seem to dominate over classic watchmaking virtues or interesting developments, the accurate watch may not be something to show off easily. Nonetheless, those enthusiasts who enjoy fine accurate watches are proud each of their pieces represents a century-long development.

The efforts to achieve the average precise watch today, which is most probably much more accurate than people believed it would ever be when watchmaking became an established industry, are respectable.
And there are many single developments in many fields. Be it Guillaume´s Nobel-prize awarded invention of ELINVAR to create particularly accurate hairsprings, Breguet´s invention of the tourbillon to equal out positional timing differences or production methods, accuracy of mechanisms truly empowered the most qualified watchmakers to find new solutions.

And that´s leading us to Girard-Perregaux, where chronometry and accurate watches occupy a special place for more than 150 years.

We may recall the personal background of Constant Girard-Perregaux. He, a highly talented watchmaker himself, carried on the tradition of two families. Both the Girard and the Perregaux clans of the Neuchatel region in Switzerland already achieved fame as "Chronometer Makers". Precision clocks and watches was their business, long before the families united by Constant´s marriage in 1856.

And there´s been vivid demand for accurate timekeeping instruments and knowledge of exact time:

- in other regions, naval navigation demanded exact time

- increasing long-range business required to time travel and work

- scientific research required timing of - sometimes small - intervals

- industrial production required to time life and work.

The concept of chronometry only appeared in the 18th century, when specifically portable timekeepers became more popular. Until then, a watch used to be an item almost exclusively owned by royal courts and few privileged individuals. Within the 18th century, portable watches gained in popularity due to improved production methods and volumes; but still a watch wasn´t the exact device we´re used to see today and timing results of a few minutes per day was regarded above average.

As life became faster, with the acceleration of industrial production and rise of modern communication in the 19th century a wide variety of inventions focussed on the creation of increasingly accurate movements.
In particular, the watch escapement benefited from progress in this field; we do know dozens of solution, from singular tests up to industrially successfull creations. It was this time where cylinder escapement systems, likewise inaccurate but relatively uncostly in production, were replaced by detent escapements, which performance outdid almost anything incorporated in a portable watch before. At the same time, the swiss lever escapement improved portability and day-to-day use particularly in terms of it´s ability to withstand shocks.

It is no surprise parallel development and industrial challenges lead to competition.
The swiss industry for one focussed on creating affordable timekeepers. But in no less degree, the industry focussed on creating better timekeepers.
And such environment easily leads to competition.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, chronometry became the subject of competition between watchmakers and, in 1856, the Neuchâtel Observatory was founded to be the swiss guardian of accurate time. The Neuchatel Observatory represent the supreme authority on this matter for over a century and subsequently, for more than a century laid base for improvement through competition.

This led to fierce competition among the brands and watchmakers to present watches in Observatory timing contests; only the most accurate watches were issued officially recognition, as the "Bulletin d'Marche" was the official attest of the level of precision. Precision and chronometry, being regarded the King of watchmaking skills, became the most prominent signs of excellence. And such led to publicity and fame, which was a considerable asset; the "observatory-certified" and proven movements were widely regarded to be perfectly manufactured and finished.

 Constant Girard-Perregaux found this to be an inspiring environment; being acquainted with precision watchmaking and being the talented watchmaker he was, he picked up the challenge of rivalling the world´s most accurate timekeepers very soon.

As a master watchmaker, he had a great interest in cutting-edge technology and particularly the Tourbillon. This was accompanied by his outstanding skills, which allowed him to transform brillant ideas into brillantly executed watches. It thus is just a natural Constant Girard-Perregaux didn´t shy from any competition and it´s perfectly understandable he did choose the hardest and most famed competitions to submit his watches to; from 1865 onwards, he entrusted the examination of his watches to the Neuchâtel Observatory.

(1876 chronometer escapement Observatory-awarded movement)

The watches submitted by Girard-Perregaux quickly led to fame. Not only because of record-breaking performance and setting new world records: In 1867, a Tourbillon which would later be a prize winner at the Paris Universal Exhibition obtained such good results that it remained unequalled for several decades to come. Overall, around 400 Girard-Perregaux watches and marine chronometers would win prizes until 1912.

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Greetings from Germany,

Peter