Girard Perregaux Tip of the Week #33

In his youth, Constant Girard, besides an exceptional gift for watchmaking, revealed a spirited and passionate temperament. In 1848, he was among the revolutionary democratic leaders in La Chaux-de-Fonds opposed to the Prussian monarch. Throughout his life, he never shirked from the intense social and political commitment, though it did not stop him from devoting himself to his art with passion. The watchmaking revolutionary Constant Girard was also a revoutionary in his social and political life.

This outlook on life led him to dream up innovative concepts such as using gold to make certain parts such as Bridges, and using the movement as a design element in its own right for the Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. In 1880, he was yet again in the vanguard, with the production of wristwatches on a large scale for the first time. Throughout his career Constant Girard received a number of medals, diplomas and distinctions in recognition of his work.