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If the name rings a bell, it should — Abraham-Louis Perrelet is the guy who invented the automatic watch. And while the modern brand bearing his
name isn’t exactly a household name, it does carry some horological weight.
Perrelet is a history-rooted brand doing its own thing: automatic watches that double down on motion, with a strong design identity and a few clever
mechanical tricks up their sleeves.
Let’s start with the big claim: Abraham-Louis Perrelet, a Swiss watchmaker working in the 18th century, is credited with inventing the first self-
winding mechanism for pocket watches — the ancestor of modern automatic movements.
The modern Perrelet brand was revived in the late 20th century and later acquired by the Festina Group. Since then, they’ve leaned into the
automatic movement concept as both function and aesthetic — with most watches featuring rotor-inspired dials, turbine effects, and visible motion.
If you like your watches to move, this brand delivers.
Perrelet is all about kinetic expression. The majority of their lineup features spinning dial elements — like turbine blades, rotors, or openworked
components — that respond to wrist movement and put the “automatic” in automatic watch.
Key models:
Movements are either modified ETA calibers or in-house through their sister company Soprod, which supplies movements to other respected
independents.
Because they’ve committed to a design concept — and executed it well.
You’re not buying Perrelet for understated elegance. You’re buying it because you want a watch that moves, that feels alive, and that embraces the
whole point of automatic mechanics. And for collectors who’ve already done the clean three-hand thing? These are refreshingly different.
Plus, they’re well-built, Swiss-made, and not overexposed — a rare trifecta in today’s market.
The Turbine series remains the core of the brand — available in steel, titanium, carbon, and PVD, with options for everything from aviator style to
complication-heavy variations (including chronographs and GMTs).
Perrelet has also started leaning into more contemporary case shapes with the Lab Peripheral series, which introduces subtlety back into the
lineup without abandoning innovation.
On the pre-owned market, Turbine models offer standout design and mechanical flair for well under retail.
Perrelet is one of those brands where the design actually matches the mechanics — and I respect that.
I’ve sold a few Turbines, and they’re just fun. The way the dial moves, the build quality, the finishing… it’s legit. Not for minimalists, not for flippers —
but for guys who love motion and want something different on the wrist.
And let’s not forget — without Perrelet, we might all still be winding our watches every morning.
Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Perrelet watches — especially Turbine and Lab Peripheral models.
If you have a Perrelet watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.