Perrelet Launches Alternance 10 In-House Movement

Perrelet, named for Swiss watchmaking pioneer Abraham-Louis Perrelet, inventor of the automatic watch, has worked toward the goal of vertical integration since its purchase in 2004 by Spanish entrepreneur Miguel Rodriguez, owner of the Festina Group. The company calls the new movement “a decisive step on the path towards autonomous production.”

As part of the Festina Group, Perrelet can take advantage of relationships with its sister companies in the Group, such as Soprod, IMM Ineltec, MHVJ and Astral, which produce various components for watch movements. The result, according to Perrelet CEO Fausto Salvi, is an impressive level of industrial self-sufficiency.

“Today more than ever, having in-house means of developing and producing horological specialties represents a great opportunity,” Salvi says. “Production autonomy is an extremely important issue and an aspect that enables us to remain in the avant-garde of our field. Witness the recent acceleration we have undertaken in diversifying the Double Rotor modules. The A10 movement represents a milestone achievement for us; we are well on the way towards complete independence.”

The self-winding A10 caliber, produced entirely within The Festina Group, has a diameter of 11 ½”’ and a frequency of 28,800 vph. It has a new escapement with optimized efficiency and balance spring. The movement has earned Chronofiable certification (and may, on request, also receive chronometer certification from the Swiss testing agency COSC). The A 10 is available in several variations, including three hands plus date, three hands with visible balance, and some skeletonized versions. A broad range of additional functions may be added, which to date includes large dates, dual time-zone with day-night indicator, power reserve, 24-hour indicator, chronograph, and small seconds. The A10 also incorporates custom-made complications, notably Perrelet’s signature double-rotor modules. (For definitions of technical terms, check out our Watchmaking Glossary.)

The movement also boasts elegant finishing. The upper rotor, which rotates around the periphery of the movement, has three openings that offer a view of its oscillations. The openworked lower rotor provides a broader view of the brand’s distinctive “tapestry” motif adorning the bridges. Other adornments include the use of the Perrelet “P” signature and a Côtes de Genève motif.

The Alternance 10 movement makes its debut in the brand’s Peripheral Double Rotor model, and Perrelet intends to quickly integrate the A10 into its existing collection, which has recently been revitalized by the spinning double-rotor Turbine models. All new models introduced in 2012 will contain the new caliber, and over time, it will replace all the movements currently being used in its watches, according to the company.