Louis Richard

The Louis Richard men's watch collection consists of 14 different styles.  Only the Carlow and Hammond styles have a mechanical movement.  All others have an automatic movement with 17 to 38 jewels.  All watches also have stainless steel cases and an exhibition back.  All watches are water resistant up to 5 ATM.

In keeping with the watchmaking tradition started by his family in Switzerland and Louis Jean Richard's own pursuit of precision and excellence, the new line of Louis Richard timepieces has avant-garde looks suitable for the most discriminating gentlemen. 

HISTORY:  Louis Jean Richard, born in Le Locle on October 22, 1812, died there on January 10, 1875.  His father was the great grandson of Daniel Jean Richard, the founder of the watchmaking industry in the Neuchatel Mountains.  As a young man, and without any formal training, Daniel produced the first watch in the region, which, over three hundred years later, boasts the highest concentration of watchmaking companies in Switzerland.

A distinguished watchmaker/manufacturer, Louis Jean Richard's fine precision pieces were greatly admired at the Universal Exhibition in London and especially at the Exhibition in Paris in 1855, and contributed to highlighting the qualities of  watchmaking in Le Locle.  An official delegate at the latter exhibition, he submitted to it a much read report, in which, in particular, he was one of the first to announce the need for creating a cantonal observatory for checking precision timepieces.  While waiting, he had set up his own observatory by fixing a meridian circle, which he had procured in Paris, to the window of his study and used it to observe the passage of the stars, to correct the time of his astronomical clock.  This clock, entirely built by his own hand, is a pure masterpiece.  It is of remarkable precision and finish.  Its constant force escapement is his own design.  This clock is currently the property of Mr. Numa Robert-Waelti, watchmaker and deputy of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

STATEMENT:   The Louis Richard Comparative Retail Ticket Price range (1290-$1490) comes from contrasting this watch with similar products offered by major watch retailers.  In this instance, "similar" product means comparable watch design, functionality, finish, and accurate component fit.  With regard to watch components in particular, similar products will have comparable quality dials, casings, crystals, bracelets and movements to the watch models in this collection.  Our prices for Louis Richard watches are 80% to 90% below the MSRP and include Free Shipping.