Abraham-Louis Perrelet was born on the 9 January 1729 in Le Locle, during one of those long winters that numb the Neuchâtel Mountains. The fairies, mischievous companions of these wild regions, were generous when they bent over the child's cradle: they offered him intelligence, clear-sightedness, imagination and know-how. With these exceptional gifts and his passion combined, Abraham-Louis Perrelet would inscribe his name in golden letters in the annals of watchmaking and in those of craftsmen of genius.
His father, Daniel Perrelet, was a farmer and a carpenter. During the interminable winter months he made tools, some of which were extremely fine and designed for watchmakers' use.
From his adolescence onwards, it was only natural for Abraham-Louis to follow in his father's footsteps and work in the field of toolmaking. His path in life seemed clearly mapped out: he wanted to become a watch-maker. From that moment on, he found his vocation, in which he would more than excel and accomplish as much on a professional as on a human level.
He innovated and perfected a range of new combinations to improve the way timepieces ran. He thus became the first person in Le Locle to produce cylinder escapements, duplex escapements, perpetual calendar escapements and equation of time escapements. He created the draft model, gave it the finishing touches, pinions, wheels, escapement and winding mechanism. In spite of his young age, he had already built himself a solid reputation and his expert opinion was much sought after. He was also one of the most popular master watchmakers of his time.
Abraham-Louis Breguet was trained in his workshops, as was his own grandson, Louis-Frédéric Perrelet, who went on to become official watchmaker to the Kings of France. He readily answered every one of the questions his colleagues asked him when they were faced with all sorts of difficulties, and at a single glance he was able to spot all the flaws which spoilt his competitors' work.
He spent his entire life at his family home, and remained very attached to his town and his origins. He passed away at Le Locle in 1826 after working for almost 80 years on perfecting his art, the art of watchmaking.
