1852-1889: Constant Girard the visionary
The second iconic figure in the history of Girard-Perregaux was a native of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Born in 1825 in the city nestled in the Neuchâtel Mountains, Constant Girard founded the Girard & Cie firm in 1852. Two years later he married Marie Perregaux (1831-1912), born to a family of important watch merchants from Le Locle. The Girard-Perregaux Manufacture was born from the marriage of their two names in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1856.
Constant Girard-Perregaux was particularly acclaimed for his research into escapement systems, notably the tourbillon escapement. The quality and beauty of his creations were rewarded by a number of prizes and distinctions at national and international competitions, and also at Universal Exhibitions. In 1867, he presented a tourbillon which was a prize winner at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The culmination came in 1889, when his famous Tourbillon with three gold Bridges, established as the icon of the Girard-Perregaux firm, won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
The watchmaker was a true visionary. In 1880, he developed a wrist watch concept aimed at German naval officers, which were ordered by the German Kaiser Wilhelm I. The glass was shielded by a grille to protect it from shocks. Two thousand watches were produced, making this model the first major commercial wrist watch ever developed. However, the idea, which was revolutionary at the time, failed to catch on immediately. Indeed, it would not be until the beginning of the following century that the wrist watch would achieve its familiar popular success.
Nurtured and developed by the Girard-Perregaux family, the Manufacture gained recognition well beyond Europe. It was among the first to introduce the Swiss watch in America, where Constant Girard-Perregaux, along with his brothers-in-law Henri (1828-1893) and Jules Perregaux (1838-1903), set up offices. In 1865, Henri set off for Argentina, accompanied by his wife. He set up in Buenos Aires as the special agent for Girard-Perregaux in various North and South American States. From 1872, his remit extended to the West Indies. He spent sixteen years of his life helping the Brand prosper and flourish in all the American markets.
Girard-Perregaux expanded its global presence to Asia, a remarkable achievement made possible by one of Marie's brothers, François Perregaux (1834-1877), who was among the pioneers of Swiss watchmaking in Japan. In 1859 he left for Asia with a mandate from the Watchmaking Union to establish an export business. In 1860 he settled in Yokohama, thus becoming the first Swiss watch merchant to establish himself in the Land of the Rising Sun. In 1865 he founded F. Perregaux & Co in Yokohama. One of the leading figures in the French speaking community in Japan and one of its longest-established residents, he was the official agent for Girard-Perregaux until his death in 1877.
