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The Legend of the Founder
Since the 16th century, Switzerland has been the "leader" in precision watchmaking. Swiss watches are renowned worldwide for their precision, reliability, and elegant designs. Behind this glorious history are the creations and innovations of numerous legendary brands. Some of these brands have shone brightly on the global stage thanks to historical opportunities, yet there are still countless legendary Swiss watch brands awaiting discovery. They, too, possess exceptional craftsmanship and timeless products. Charles-Auguste Paillard (hereinafter referred to as CAP) is undoubtedly one of the outstanding representatives that cannot be overlooked.
Charles-Auguste Paillard (CAP) takes the name of its founder, Charles-Auguste Paillard, as the brand name, paying tribute to this outstanding watchmaking master and innovative pioneer.
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1840
In 1840, Charles-Auguste Paillard was born in the village of Sainte-Croix in Switzerland. His father was a watch calibrator, and his mother assisted the family's watchmaking business by manufacturing precision hairsprings.
At the age of 17, Paillard moved to Brazil and started his apprenticeship in the watchmaking workshop of his uncle, who specialized in manufacturing marine chronometers. As Paillard's knowledge and skills improved, he gradually developed a keen interest in the impact of climate on watches. Marine chronometers were often exposed to humid environments, making the steel hairsprings prone to rusting. Inspired by this, Paillard began to explore ways to address this defect.
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Revolutionary Breakthroughs
In 1862, Charles-Auguste Paillard returned from Brazil to Geneva, Switzerland. While working as a watch adjuster at Patek Philippe, he continued his research. His focus and determination led him to apply his knowledge and experience to the field of metal properties in watchmaking. After 15 years of exploration and experimentation, Mr. Paillard successfully developed a new type of alloy, which was particularly suitable for manufacturing precision devices of marine chronometers. The application of this alloy in components such as the escapement system and hairspring was of milestone significance, significantly improving the accuracy and reliability of watches.
In 1877, it was the moment when Charles-Auguste Paillard truly rose to fame. He successfully manufactured the first anti-oxidation and anti-magnetic hairspring using a palladium-based alloy. This discovery was of great significance in the field of anti-magnetism, because this metal wire was not only resistant to oxidation but also able to withstand the influence of magnetic fields. This innovation earned Mr. Paillard widespread recognition in the watchmaking industry.
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1855
In 1885, Paillard's research caught the attention of Charles Willis Ward, which prompted people to start imagining the possibility of applying Paillard's innovative alloy to ordinary watch movements.
In 1886, the Geneva Non-Magnetic Watch Company was established, specializing in the production and sale of anti-magnetic watches.
In 1887, Paillard invested his patent in the renowned watch brand Non-Magnetic Watch CO SA. (Anti-Magnetic Watch Company) located in Geneva. The Anti-Magnetic Watch Company customized its own movements at different watchmaking factories in Switzerland and the United States, and equipped them with the anti-magnetic balance wheels and hairsprings patented by Charles-Auguste Paillard. The movements were marked with "Patented by Paillard".
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Movement of an antique pocket watch made with the balance spring and hairspring patented by Paillard
In 1888, Paillard's family business, "E. & A, Paillard-Gauthier Frères," began to produce and sell watches named after Paillard and won the second place in a precision watch competition. In the same year, IWC (International Watch Company) utilized Mr. Paillard's patented technology to create a series of anti-magnetic movements with balance wheels, hairsprings, escape wheels, and pallet levers all made of palladium. These materials boasted excellent anti-magnetic properties.
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Towards the World
In 1893, a series of watches with official observatory certificates were exhibited at the Chicago Exhibition, including minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and chronographs with flyback hands.
In 1895, when the Association for the Manufacture of Hairsprings (FSR) was established, Paillard refused to join the monopoly alliance and chose to give up hairspring production. In the same year, Charles-Auguste Paillard passed away in Geneva, Switzerland. However, the sales of anti-magnetic watches using his patented technology in the United States continued until the 1910s. His palladium alloy technology became an important cornerstone for the technological innovation of anti-magnetic watches in the 20th century.
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Eternal Contributions
Entering the 20th century, the legacy of Charles-Auguste Paillard continued to have an impact on the watchmaking industry. His anti-magnetic technology was widely applied in the military, aviation, and maritime fields, serving as an important guarantee for precise timekeeping. Although Paillard himself passed away in 1900, his innovative spirit and contributions to the art of watchmaking are forever engraved in the history of watchmaking.
In 1900, Charles-Auguste Paillard (CAP) further expanded the influence of its technology. It reached cooperation agreements with several internationally renowned watch brands and applied the anti-magnetic technology to more high-end wristwatches. This move once again enhanced the brand's international popularity.
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Breakthroughs
In 1922, the products of Charles-Auguste Paillard passed the testing and certification of the Swiss Observatory, and the Starry Realm series was thus born.
In 1953, to commemorate the first human summit of Mount Qomolangma, the brand launched the Mount Qomolangma series, which has continued to this day.
In 2005, Charles-Auguste Paillard became one of the brands of SWM Swiss Watch Art Masters SA, and moved to Grenchen, Switzerland. Equipped with a modern workshop, it independently completed processes such as movement processing, testing, and hand-engraving of watch cases. Then it began its global development, successively entering the markets of Russia, Dubai, North America, Southeast Asia and other regions for sales.
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Technical Award
In 2015, SWS Switzerland Watch SA established the Paillard Technical Award to encourage independent watchmakers with technical innovation.
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Strategic Cooperation
In 2019, it continued to strengthen in-depth strategic cooperation with global partners and set up offline stores in Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha, and Weifang.
