PeterCDE
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Girard-Perregaux and the century-long Quest For Precision
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.
The 20th century witnessed changes; in wartimes and economical crises of the first half of the century, conducting broad research in order to peacefully compete in chronometric trials was no easy task. And subsequently, it took the watchmaking world until the 1950’s to return to good times for the Observatory. But the world has changed in many ways meanwhile. And not only because of pocket watches being replaced by wristwatches on a wide base…
The newly found attention for accuracy and chronometry laid base for increased activities by Girard-Perregaux in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The brand´s R&D engineers, as attested by the numerous patents obtained during this period, again focussed on improving the watch performance. And they did with sometimes surprising solutions, such as Gyromatic automatic-winding watch 1957. Automatic winding not only turned out to be a very convenient solution, but the constant supply of power actually led to better performance of the watch movement.
But the brand didn´t leave it at that. The research department extended it´s work on to the smallest details of the watch mechanism. And soon they knew increasing the beat of the balance wheel would give greater precision and regularity. This led to new challenges; in the early 1950´s, difficulties in terms of power reserve and lubrication could not be overcome.
18’000 and 21’600 vibrations/hour movements therefore remained the limit until 1965, when Girard-Perregaux presented the first ever high frequency movement, vibrating 36’000 times an hour.
This breakthrough of the Manufacture fundamentally changed the world of chronometry .
At the Neuchâtel Observatory, Girard-Perregaux received certificates for its serial-produced watches, the first time ever such was submitted to the timing contests. In a competition dominated by laboratory prototypes or specially prepared watches had successfully passed the tests, such success was a revolution.
In 1966, the Centenary Prize of the Neuchâtel Observatory was awarded to Girard-Perregaux as a tribute to the constant investments in precision and the engineers’ extraordinary achievements.
Since inauguration of the Neuchatel Observatory, Girard-Perregaux has received over 1,000 prizes and distinctions from the institution in its lifetime. In particular, in 1967 Girard-Perregaux obtained 662 certificates, representing 73% of all those issued by the Neuchâtel Observatory in the classic wristwatch category.
The end of the 1960´s saw another revolution: the advent of electronics.
Watchmakers embarked on a race to develop quartz technology. Many Swiss watchmakers decided to combine their efforts in an organization called CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) but Girard-Perregaux decided to continue the work of the research department on its own.
After several months of experimentation, Girard-Perregaux launched the first serial production of quartz watches in Switzerland. Subsequently, the movement set a world standard. These vibrated at a frequency subsequently adopted by all watchmakers and to be the universal standard still in use today: 32,768 Hz.
The future....
Girard-Perregaux´s dedication to precision and chronometry didn´t end in the 1960´s; still today there´s a strong commitment to create accurate timekeepers.
And, like in the days of Constant Girard-Perregaux, the research work adresses all aspects of the mechanical watch. This leads to many detailed solutions, such as the MICROVAR free-sprung escapement introduced just weeks ago.
In a standard movement , the diminishing power supplied by the barrel makes it difficult to maintain a constant amplitude for the balance wheel and hence to achieve a stable accuracy over the movement’s full power reserve.
For some more details and views, please do see our previous coverage:
(Girard-Perregaux "Vintage 1966" Palladium limited edition)
With the brands commitments to precision and accuracy, paired by it´s creativity and willingness to leave trodden paths, we can expect new marvels to come.
And if one thing, i´m sure these will not be less stunning and fascinating than what the observators experience must have been when seeing one of Constant Girard-Perregaux´s tourbillons more than 140 years ago.
Greetings from Germany,
Peter
Excellent post. Thank you so much, Bill, for giving it some extra life.
