BRIDGES OF LA CHAUXDE-FONDS

Girard-Perregaux reintroduced its production facilities to us. It was one of its first press visits since the brand became independent once again

- ASHOK SOMAN

April might be a tad early to be taking coffee outside at a manufacture at La Chauxde-Fonds, but that is where we find ourselves after our tour of the Villa Marguerite, which is what the building housing part of the Girard-Perregaux (known sometimes by its initials but we will stay with the full name for this story) manufacture is called. Obviously, this visit took place right after Watches and Wonders Geneva, where Girard-Perregaux is not exhibiting, and again we should have been amongst the last to publish, even though it was one of our first visits. To return to our setting, roughly 20 years ago, the firm, under the Sowind Group along with Daniel JeanRichard and EMG SA, unveiled this refurbished structure as the rationalised production hub for Girard-Perregaux. To begin with, a little history is in order since Girard-Perregaux can claim to be both a true manufacture engaged in the work of making watches, and also to be a survivor of the various crises that have felled many a storied name.

Brand names in watchmaking tend towards the elegant, since these are often the last names of the founders. One of our favourites is Girard-Perregaux, and it happens to be a firm that is vitally important in the story of independent manufactures. As great as the name is, the Girard-Perregaux of today is a more low-key watchmaking concern than once it was, and the narrative of production here is tied up with that of another great name, Ulysse Nardin (similarly less visible in the current firmament of fine watchmaking). It is impossible to discuss one brand without referencing the other, yet each has a distinct identity that is tied to an iconic watch model; these icons are perhaps better recognised today than the brands that make them, but more on that later.