François Perregaux

François Perregaux (1834 Le Locle, Switzerland – 1877, Yokohama, Japan) was a Swiss watchmaker and businessman.

François Perregaux
Born
François Perregaux

(1834-06-25)25 June 1834
Le Locle, Switzerland
Died18 December 1877(1877-12-18) (aged 43)
Yokohama, Japan
NationalitySwiss
Occupation(s)Watchmaker, businessman
Years active1852–1877
Known forF. Perregaux & Co. and Girard-Perregaux

F. Perregaux 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

F. Perregaux was born to Henri François Perregaux and Rosalie Matthey-Junod, both established watchmakers from Le Locle, Switzerland.

F. Perregaux was brother to Jules Perregaux, Henri Perregaux, Françoise Perregaux and Marie Perregaux.

Little is known about his personal life other than his daughter Eliza Perregaux, who was buried in the cemetery of Yokohama, next to him.[4][5]

Milestones

F. 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]

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

François 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

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

He was buried at the Foreign General Cemetery in Yokohama, Japan where his sepulture still stands to this day.[12]

References
  1. Francois Perregaux Exhibition in Yokohama, promoted by the Swiss Confederation
  2. Perregaux, the first Swiss watchmaker in Japan, Watchonista, 7 February 2014
  3. Francois Perregaux public event, Federation of the Swiss watch industry FH
  4. Historical references, Marie Perregaux
  5. Family ties, Marie Perregaux
  6. Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Company history
  7. François Perregaux, pioneer in Japan
  8. Francois Perregaux public exhibition, Swiss Confederation
  9. Francois Perregaux Exhibition (Yokohama Creativity Center)
  10. The first Swiss watchmaker in Japan
  11. Perregaux, the first Swiss watchmaker in Japan, Watchonista, 7 February 2014
  12. Reference to place and date of death, 18 December 1877, Yokohama
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