History of Tavan

One of the most recognized watchmakers in Switzerland during the 19th century was a man by the name of Antoine Tavan. His lifelong work to conceive and redesign watch escapements and movements would go on to become some of the most distinguished advancements in watch making history.

But what exactly is a watch escapement? Well by the simplest definition, it is the larger gear in a watch or clock that connects the train wheel with the pendulum or balance to maintain a steady rhythm of seconds. The name is derived from the gear's function to 'escape' from a pallet as it revolves. A precise and steady hand is required to chisel the escapements of each timepiece to exact proportions with a great deal of patience.

In 1805 the Genéva manufacturing firm, Melly Freres specifically requested Tavan's craftsmanship to create a new breed of watch escapement. The commissioned task went on to produce not just one, but 12 new watch escapements including 3 of his own unique vision and design. In fact, these exact models are still on display in the Museum of École d'Horlogerie to this day.The Society of Arts has always been a tremendous innovator of the watch making world. In the spring of 1816, it announced a competition for the regulating of clocks and watches. The challenge was to create a watch so precise that the variations could not exceed 3 seconds within a 24-hour period. However there was a catch; this feat had to be accomplished without any regard for outside temperature or the positioning of the watch itself, whether it was sitting flat, suspended, or worn. Antoine Tavan walked away victorious with 800 florins in his pocket and a whole new level of prestige in his community.

And that prestige would only continue to grow as years passed. Tavan astounded the watch making world yet again in 1825 when he introduced an entirely new creation. This device was a watch with two systems of second hands on the same dial. One hand had standard sweep seconds and the other could start or stop by means of a push-button. The concept of the chronograph had been around since the 1500's, but using "running" seconds and "dead" seconds on the same dial was an unconventional idea for that time period.

Antoine Tavan, among other watchmakers of his time, left behind a legacy that contributed greatly to the establishment of superior watch making. So today we introduce you to Tavan, the brand. True to Tavan tradition, we are committed to bringing you this stunning classical collection of timepieces that are master crafted with the same precision and dependability in mind.

1749: born
1836: died
An eminent maker of watches and chronometers.
made 10 large scale models of escapements about 1805, to the order of Melly Frères, now in 'Museum of École d'Horlogerie', Geneva.
They included the verge, virgule, dupley, lever, 'Arnold' with spring and pivoted detent and three of hisown invention.
Watch with ordinary seconds hand and independent sweep central seconds hand (Geneva Museum)
Devised a chronometer escapement in 1819, and a lever escapement, called 'échappement anchor' with pointed teeth.