Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France · 1806–1893
Victor Athanase Pierret
Partially verifiedMaker of night clocks, marine chronometers, and complex pendulum clocks
Life & work
Born in 1806, Victor-Athanase Pierret began his horological training at the age of thirteen under Rolin in Moncornet.
He established himself in Paris at the age of twenty-four, where he developed a diverse range of horological instruments and tools. Throughout his career, Pierret exhibited at major events like the 1851 London exhibition and secured patents for his calendar and clockwork innovations. He retired to Neuilly in 1865, although he maintained business interests in the firm Pierret-Borel et Blin.
His legacy persists through his charitable endowments and the prevalence of his work in institutional collections.
The fuller biography summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.
Training, contributions & innovations
- Pierret made significant advancements in timepiece utility by inventing a night clock featuring a rotating globe.
- He pioneered technical methods for horological production, including patented wood-cutting machinery and specialized timekeeping mechanisms.
- The maker utilized distinct identification stamps on his clocks, marking them as V.A.P or V.A.P Brevette D.G.S.G.
Documented works
- A special night clock by Pierret is held in the collection of the Vienna Clock Museum.
- The Musée de l'horlogerie in Saint-Nicolas d'Aliermont preserves a Parisian-style pendulum clock of his creation.
- The Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery in New Zealand maintains a small clock produced by Pierret.
Collecting significance
The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.
Firms, key models & movements
No firm, model or movement in this encyclopedia is yet recorded under this maker's name.
In the object catalogue
2 catalogued objects are recorded under Victor Athanase Pierret. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.
- French Alarm Clock in Burr Walnut CaseAlarm clock · circa 1840
- Louis XVI Style Gilt and Marble Clock and CassolettesAnnular clock · circa 1865
Diagram
Sources & references
- Pierret, Victor-Athanase, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03
Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.