Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux in 1854. It was from the union of their two names that the GIRARD-PERREGAUX Manufactory was born in 1856.
In 1867, Constant Girard presented his Tourbillon with three gold Bridges after years of research into the functional use of gold in watch movements.
This masterpiece was awarded the gold medal at the Universal exhibitions of Paris in 1867 and 1889, but declared ineligible in 1901 because it could not be equalled.
Constant Girard developed in 1880 an extremely innovative concept for watches, the wristwatch, following an order by Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany for his naval officers. Two thousand were made, the first large-scale production of wristwatches in history. But the idea was considered outlandish and production was discontinued. It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that the wristwatch became popular and enjoyed the industrial development that has made watch making one of the flagship industries of the Swiss economy.
During the early 1900’s, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin used a GIRARD-PERREGAUX watch to time the aeronautical trials of his airships. Around 1910 when wristwatches came into their own, GIRARD-PERREGAUX's reputation spread far and wide.
Otto Graef in 1928, a German watchmaker and owner of MIMO (International Manufactory of Gold Watches) bought out GIRARD-PERREGAUX's share capital. It was during 1930 that sales of wristwatches exceeded sales of pocket watches for the first time, proof of Constant Girard's farsightedness when he developed the wristwatch as early as 1880.
The Second World War scarcely affected the company's activities. It continued to develop GIRARD-PERREGAUX both in Europe and on the American continent, but concentrated on MIMO for the European markets. To meet the needs of an internationally renowned company, construction work began in 1948 on the building at Place Girardet 1, La Chaux-de-Fonds. Restored in 1988, this building is still the Manufactory's head office.
In 1867, Constant Girard presented his Tourbillon with three gold Bridges after years of research into the functional use of gold in watch movements.
This masterpiece was awarded the gold medal at the Universal exhibitions of Paris in 1867 and 1889, but declared ineligible in 1901 because it could not be equalled.
Constant Girard developed in 1880 an extremely innovative concept for watches, the wristwatch, following an order by Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany for his naval officers. Two thousand were made, the first large-scale production of wristwatches in history. But the idea was considered outlandish and production was discontinued. It was not until the beginning of the twentieth century that the wristwatch became popular and enjoyed the industrial development that has made watch making one of the flagship industries of the Swiss economy.
During the early 1900’s, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin used a GIRARD-PERREGAUX watch to time the aeronautical trials of his airships. Around 1910 when wristwatches came into their own, GIRARD-PERREGAUX's reputation spread far and wide.
Otto Graef in 1928, a German watchmaker and owner of MIMO (International Manufactory of Gold Watches) bought out GIRARD-PERREGAUX's share capital. It was during 1930 that sales of wristwatches exceeded sales of pocket watches for the first time, proof of Constant Girard's farsightedness when he developed the wristwatch as early as 1880.
The Second World War scarcely affected the company's activities. It continued to develop GIRARD-PERREGAUX both in Europe and on the American continent, but concentrated on MIMO for the European markets. To meet the needs of an internationally renowned company, construction work began in 1948 on the building at Place Girardet 1, La Chaux-de-Fonds. Restored in 1988, this building is still the Manufactory's head office.
During the 1950's, GIRARD-PERREGAUX was one of the flagship companies in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a long-established watch-making centre. An integrated manufactory, it was present on all the international markets and began to concentrate on developing its business in Asia.
During 1993, GIRARD-PERREGAUX signed a co-branding agreement with FERRARI and created a limited series of split seconds chronograph stamped with the legendary "rearing horse" symbol. And In July 1996, the POUR FERRARI F50, commemorating the Italian car manufacturer's 50th anniversary, was given its international launch in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in front of five hundred guests and 127 classic Ferraris.
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