François Perregaux Explained

François Perregaux (1834 Le Locle, Switzerland – 1877, Yokohama, Japan) was a Swiss watchmaker and businessman. He was the first European watchmaker to travel to Asia (1863) and is remembered for his contribution to establishing the watchmaking industry in Japan.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Family

Perregaux was born to Henri François Perregaux and Rosalie Matthey-Junod, both established watchmakers from Le Locle, Switzerland. His siblings included Jules Perregaux, Henri Perregaux, Françoise Perregaux and Marie Perregaux. Little is known about his personal life other than that he had a daughter, Eliza Perregaux, who was buried in the cemetery of Yokohama, next to him.^{[4] [5]}

Milestones

Perregaux was brother to Marie Perregaux who co-founded the brand Girard-Perregaux along with Constant Girard in 1852. François was instrumental in the early stages of the company, traveling to the USA and Japan to assist in its exports overseas.Girard-Perregaux remains one of the oldest Swiss watch brands still in business today.^[6]

Perregaux, James Favre-Brandt and Albert Favre Zanuti, are credited as the pioneers of mechanical watchmaking in Japan.^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

Perregaux is also credited for establishing the first Swiss company in Japan (F. Perregaux & Co.), which was responsible for importing the first wristwatches into the country, in 1865.^[11]

Death

Perregaux died unexpectedly of an apoplectic attack on December 18, 1877 at 43 years of age.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Francois Perregaux Exhibition . 2024-10-05 . eda.admin.ch . en.
2. Web site: Girard-Perregaux . 2014-02-07 . Girard-Perregaux, the first Swiss watchmaker in Japan, partners up with the Neuchâtel Ethnography Museum for the Imagine Japan exhibition . 2024-10-05 . Girard-Perregaux . en.
3. Web site: Francois Perregaux public event, Federation of the Swiss watch industry FH . 2020-11-24 . 2016-04-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160420020409/http://fhs.jp/eng/2015_12_Sowind_GP.html . dead .
4. Web site: 2012-12-03 . Marie Perregaux . 2024-10-05 . Le Point . fr.
5. Web site: Besler . Carol . 2013-05-16 . Throwback Thursday: Girard-Perregaux Makes History With Tri-Bridge Tourbillon . 2024-10-05 . Haute Time . en-US.
6. Web site: Gerard Perregaux . 2024-10-05 . www.hautehorlogerie.org.
7. http://en.worldtempus.com/article/girard-perregaux-francois-perregaux-pioneer-in-japan-6906.html#/ François Perregaux, pioneer in Japan
8. Web site: Francois Perregaux Exhibition . 2024-10-05 . eda.admin.ch . en.
9. Web site: Francois Perregaux Exhibition (Yokohama Creativity Center) . 2020-11-24 . 2016-04-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160420020409/http://fhs.jp/eng/2015_12_Sowind_GP.html . dead .
10. Web site: Girard-Perregaux . 2014-02-07 . Girard-Perregaux, the first Swiss watchmaker in Japan, partners up with the Neuchâtel Ethnography Museum for the Imagine Japan exhibition . 2024-10-05 . Girard-Perregaux . en.
11. Web site: Girard-Perregaux . 2014-02-07 . Girard-Perregaux, the first Swiss watchmaker in Japan, partners up with the Neuchâtel Ethnography Museum for the Imagine Japan exhibition . 2024-10-05 . Girard-Perregaux . en.