1842
- Jean-Adrien Philippe, the later partner at Patek Philippe, developes the crown winding, one of the major innovations in watchmaking history.
- Physicist Auguste de la Rive of Geneva invents the galvanic gilding process.
- Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué of Strasbourg restores the clock of the city's cathedral which had been stopped since 1790.
- Antoine Redier, born in Perpignan, inventor of eight-point clocks, the coincidence counter, and various scientific recording devices, succeeds Duchemin, a watchmaker in Paris.