In the December 1924 issue of Switzerland’s oldest watchmaking journal, the JSH: it’s 2 months after Saturday 4 October 1924, when the Société Suisse de Chronométrie was established in Geneva. 100 years ago! Here is the story of this prestigious SSC, which celebrates in 2024 its 100th Anniversary.
Joël A. Grandjean, JSH Magazine & Swiss-Watch-Passport.ch’s editor in chief & publisher
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After two years of rummaging through the JSH archives, did the Société Suisse de Chronométrie finally locate the signed original copy of its founding statutes dated 5 October 1924? Apparently not. So, while trying to help them out, I came across another historical pearl: a 1924 edition of the JSH that gives a detailed description of the founding circumstances. A few extracts, and sentences that still resonate today.
First honorary member, a Nobel Prize Laureate
Extract: “On Sunday morning, 5 October, about sixty people gathered in the main hall of the Athénée. Professor Ch. Ch.-Eug. Guye welcomed them on behalf of the Société des Arts, and Mr Henri Rosat chaired the meeting, which we report elsewhere. The committee was elected and Mr Ch.-Ed. Guillaume (1861-1938) was honoured as an honorary member. All those present were moved when the President gave the distinguished scientist a warm accolade. This meeting was the worthy culmination of an unforgettable celebration.”
So networking was already a thing back then! And the festive spirit, just like the current events organised by the Société Suisse de Chronométrie, such as the annual Journées d’Etudes, the International Chronometry Congress held every three years or the occasional Petits-Déjeuners, was already the cement that held together precious relationships and invaluable exchanges.
By Wikipedia
Scientific career
Guillaume was head of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.[5][6] He also worked with Kristian Birkeland, serving at the Observatoire de Paris – Section de Meudon. He conducted several experiments with thermostatic measurements at the observatory.
Nickel–steel alloy
Guillaume is known for his discovery of nickel–steel alloys he named invar,[7] elinvar and platinite, also known as red platinum. Invar has a near-zero coefficient of thermal expansion, making it useful in constructing precision instruments whose dimensions need to remain constant in spite of varying temperature” error of the balance wheel.[5] The Guillaume balance (a type of balance wheel) in horology is named after him.[11][12]
100 years ago, in 1924, Mr L. Defossey wrote the following excerpt from the SSC’s founding speech: “The SSC will be all the more respected for its opinions are those of competent people, who stand above particular interests and only listen to the voice of general interest“
At the time, the JSH was the official organ of the “Swiss Federation of Technical School Alumni Societies” (Fédération des Sociétés des Anciens Elèves des Ecoles Techniques de la Suisse Occidentale). As such, it was already at the heart of the sector and its major events, such as the four-day celebration in Geneva of the 100th anniversary of the Geneva Watchmaking School. On 4th October, the Saturday before the founding meeting at the Palais de l’Athénée in Geneva, our correspondent attended “three fine lectures in the Aula of the University.” It was during one of them that Léopold Deffossez, the Director of the Le Locle watchmaking school and initiator of the SSC, delivered his speech. He was clearly a federator, a motivator and, above all, a visionary.
