Par Excellence

Girard-Perregaux’s manufacture at Le Chaux-de-Fonds is its epicentre of expertise and craftsmanship.

- Mindy Teh

As a UNESCO world heritage site, the district of Le Chaux-de-Fonds is certainly unassuming in its charming Swiss town ubiquity. Yet, as a city that was purpose-built for watchmaking, it is unparalleled, its horological heritage being part of the reason for its status. History and architecture aficionados will readily tell you that after a great fire ravaged the area at the turn of the 19th century, a unique urban planning scheme meant uniformed, wider streets, all running east to west in accordance to the rising and setting of the sun. Buildings, too, were restricted in height, giving watchmakers every advantage of natural sunlight for their horological pursuits. At one time, Le Chaux-de Fonds was producing at least half of the world’s timepieces and is still seen as the mecca of Swiss watchmaking in the Neuchatel canton.

One of the city’s stalwarts still sees through the entire manufacture process, from mainspring to hairspring. In fact, Girard-Perregaux’s commitment to horological innovation sees at least 100 patents held by the maison. The recent appointment of Patrick Pruniaux, Kering Group’s wunderkind—previously of Apple—as the new CEO of Girard-Perregaux assures the brand not just of a new energy and spirit but also a reinforcement of its innovation.

“I want to tell a simple story with Girard Perregaux,” says Pruniaux quite matter-of-factly of the brand during an interview at this year’s SIHH. “That it’s a historical leader in manufacturing with a classic and contemporary touch.”