Albert Pellaton-Favre: Difference between revisions

From Grail Watch Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
Frédéric Albert Pellaton-Favre (1834-1914) was a pioneer in the construction of the [[tourbillon]] [[escapement]] around the turn of the 20th century. His work was continued by his son, [[Jämes-Cesar Pellaton]].
Frédéric Albert Pellaton-Favre (1832-1914) was a pioneer in the construction of the [[tourbillon]] [[escapement]] around the turn of the 20th century. His work was continued by his son, [[Jämes-Cesar Pellaton]].


Albert Pellaton-Favre worked in [[Le Locle]] and was the son of blacksmith and farmer Henri Sylvain Pellaton (1807-1884) and Adèle Uranie Pellaton (1811-1882). Known as Frédéric Albert in his youth, he became known as Albert Pellaton-Favre after marrying watchmaker Louise Joséphine Favre-Bulle. He was later widely known as simply Albert Pellaton, [[Albert Pellaton|a name he shared with his grandson]], the technical director of [[IWC]] and mentor to [[Kurt Klaus]]. Albert and Louise had 8 sons and 4 daughters.
Albert Pellaton-Favre was born on November 17, [[1832]] at Combe de la Racine near [[Brévine]]), the oldest son of wheelwright and farmer Henri Sylvain Pellaton (1807-1884) and Adèle Uranie Pellaton (1811-1882). He left school in the village of La Chatagne at the age of 13, and his family soon moved to Les Vorpets, near [[Les Brenets]].


Albert Pellaton-Favre created at least 82 tourbillon escapements, most equipped with his novel spring retardment. Watches using his tourbillon assortment won many awards, notably at Kew, and from the observatories in Geneva and Neuchâtel. He collaborated with [[Henchoz Frères]], [[Golay Fils]], [[Paul Ditisheim]], [[Girard-Perregaux]], and [[Patek Philippe]], among others, often working with his son, [[Jämes-Cesar Pellaton]]. It is said that he delivered 35 tourbillons to these clients.
Known as Frédéric Albert in his youth, he became known as Albert Pellaton-Favre after marrying watchmaker Louise Joséphine Favre-Bulle. He was said to have delicate health and suffered from migraine headaches. He was later widely known as simply Albert Pellaton, [[Albert Pellaton|a name he shared with his grandson]], the technical director of [[IWC]] and mentor to [[Kurt Klaus]]. Albert and Louise had 8 sons and 4 daughters.
 
Although his father wanted him to become a wheelwright, Albert was not suited to the trade and instead spent a year working for a watchmaker known as Salzmann in Combes des Brenets. Seeking more knowledge of watchmaking he then worked for a relative, A. Pellaton, in La Chatagne, where he worked on anchor escapements. He then moved to the workshop of Louis Richard, working on detent escapements and constant force mechanisms.
 
Inspired by the delicate and accurate escapements of Richard, Albert soon set about constructing his own [[tourbillon]] at home, following the design of [[Breguet]]. He moved to [[Le Locle]] and continued his work, focused on unique hand-made escapements for the finest watchmakers. It is said that each was unique, and he delivered his sketches along with the final escapement, which he finished by hand in his own workshop.
 
Albert Pellaton-Favre created at least 82 tourbillon escapements, most equipped with his novel spring retardment. Watches using his tourbillon assortment won many awards, notably at Kew, and from the observatories in Geneva and Neuchâtel. He collaborated with [[Henchoz Frères]], [[Golay Fils]], [[Paul Ditisheim]], [[Girard-Perregaux]], and [[Patek Philippe]], among others, often working with his son, [[Jämes-Cesar Pellaton]]. It is said that he delivered 35 tourbillons to these clients. Pellaton also constructed [[detent escapement]]s, for which he is less famous.
 
Albert Pellaton-Favre worked alone for the most part, though his son Jämes-Cesar helped him later in life. After [[1908]], when he was 76 years old, he was forced to retire permanently from his workshop. He died on September 9, [[1914]] in Le Locle.


==Family Tree==
==Family Tree==

Revision as of 12:38, 18 October 2022

Frédéric Albert Pellaton-Favre (1832-1914) was a pioneer in the construction of the tourbillon escapement around the turn of the 20th century. His work was continued by his son, Jämes-Cesar Pellaton.

Albert Pellaton-Favre was born on November 17, 1832 at Combe de la Racine near Brévine), the oldest son of wheelwright and farmer Henri Sylvain Pellaton (1807-1884) and Adèle Uranie Pellaton (1811-1882). He left school in the village of La Chatagne at the age of 13, and his family soon moved to Les Vorpets, near Les Brenets.

Known as Frédéric Albert in his youth, he became known as Albert Pellaton-Favre after marrying watchmaker Louise Joséphine Favre-Bulle. He was said to have delicate health and suffered from migraine headaches. He was later widely known as simply Albert Pellaton, a name he shared with his grandson, the technical director of IWC and mentor to Kurt Klaus. Albert and Louise had 8 sons and 4 daughters.

Although his father wanted him to become a wheelwright, Albert was not suited to the trade and instead spent a year working for a watchmaker known as Salzmann in Combes des Brenets. Seeking more knowledge of watchmaking he then worked for a relative, A. Pellaton, in La Chatagne, where he worked on anchor escapements. He then moved to the workshop of Louis Richard, working on detent escapements and constant force mechanisms.

Inspired by the delicate and accurate escapements of Richard, Albert soon set about constructing his own tourbillon at home, following the design of Breguet. He moved to Le Locle and continued his work, focused on unique hand-made escapements for the finest watchmakers. It is said that each was unique, and he delivered his sketches along with the final escapement, which he finished by hand in his own workshop.

Albert Pellaton-Favre created at least 82 tourbillon escapements, most equipped with his novel spring retardment. Watches using his tourbillon assortment won many awards, notably at Kew, and from the observatories in Geneva and Neuchâtel. He collaborated with Henchoz Frères, Golay Fils, Paul Ditisheim, Girard-Perregaux, and Patek Philippe, among others, often working with his son, Jämes-Cesar Pellaton. It is said that he delivered 35 tourbillons to these clients. Pellaton also constructed detent escapements, for which he is less famous.

Albert Pellaton-Favre worked alone for the most part, though his son Jämes-Cesar helped him later in life. After 1908, when he was 76 years old, he was forced to retire permanently from his workshop. He died on September 9, 1914 in Le Locle.

Family Tree

  • Henri Sylvain Pellaton (1807-1884) married to Adèle Uranie Pellaton (1811-1882)
    • Frédéric Albert Pellaton-Favre (1832-1914) married to Louise Joséphine Favre-Bulle
      • Louis Albert Pellaton (1858-1942)
      • Arthur-Albert Pellaton-Schild (1861-1935) founded Pellaton Frères
      • Sylvain Edouard Pellaton (1862-?)
      • Georges Emile Pellaton-Steudler (1865-1950) founded Martel Watch Co. (1914-1940) married ? Steudler and later ? Dubois
      • Jule Arnold Pellaton (1870-?)
      • Henri-Edmond Pellaton-Robert (1872-1927) founded Pellaton Frères
      • Jämes-Cesar Pellaton (1873-1954) directed the watchmaking school in Le Locle
      • Camille Ulysse Pellaton (1877-1954)
      • Marthe Cécile Pellaton (1878-1951)
    • Adolphe Ernest Pellaton (1834-?) married to Cécile Rosalie Robert-Grandpierre
    • Ulysse Augustin Pellaton (1837-1889) married to Cécile Jeanneret-Grosjean
    • Félix Emile Pellaton (1837-1889) married to Augusta Favre-Bulle
    • Louis Alfred Pellaton (1839-?) married to Louise Huguenin-Virchaux
    • Auguste Sylvain Pellaton (1844-?)