PERRELET

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History

Maison Perrelet is a renowned Swiss watchmaker with a rich history of innovation and tradition. Since its inception, the brand has been a trailblazer in the world of watchmaking, creating timepieces that are both innovative and steeped in tradition. The brand's unique blend of innovation and tradition has been a constant thread throughout its history, with significant industry players in the area of Switzerland.

Maison Perrelet's founder, Abraham-Louis Perrelet, was born around 1729 in Le Locle, Switzerland, and grew up in a family of watchmakers. He honed his skills in his father's and grandfather's workshop and became a pivotal figure in the evolution of watchmaking. His unique talent for visualizing the intricate ballet of watch components and his patience in bringing these visions to life set him apart. He revolutionized the designs of the delicate mechanisms that animated the watches of his time, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

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One of Abraham-Louis Perrelet's most significant achievements was the creation of the first automatic winding watch almost 250 years ago. At that time, it was common for watch owners to wind their watches daily with a minor key to energize their intricate mechanism.

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Perrelet set out to free watch owners from this daily routine by devising an automatic system powered by the natural kinetic energy of the moving human body. He conceived a rotor that would capture the kinetic energy of human movement, the quintessence of passing days, and convert it into the power that would perpetually drive that mechanism.

After years of sketches and failed experiments, in 1777, Perrelet finally brought to life the first automatic winding watch in watchmaking history. The metallic rotor he had devised spun freely in both directions, propelled by the watch's movements as its owner walked and transmitting its circular dance to the delicate gear that wound the mechanism's spring. Perrelet's genius lay in having conceived that concept and translating it into a mechanism capable of transforming the incessant flow of life into the energy that would keep the machinery of his new creation in perpetual motion.

Louis-Frédéric Perrelet, following in his father's footsteps, improved the astronomical pendulum and presented an exceptional physics and astronomy chronometer with a split-second mechanism. This piece, officially patented in March 1828, earned him the medal of the Academy of Sciences in 1830.

Today, Maison Perrelet continues to create exceptional timepieces, offering a range of collections that embody the brand's tradition of innovation and excellence. The brand's unwavering commitment to technical excellence and precision is a testament to its vision: to uphold the watchmaking legacy of its legendary founder and his successors.

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