author
Claudius Saunier
1816–1896
A 19th-century French watchmaker and teacher, he helped turn practical horology into a field of serious study. His manuals and journals became lasting reference works for craftsmen, students, and collectors.
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About the author
Born in Mâcon in 1816, Claudius Saunier trained in watchmaking in France and Switzerland before returning home to teach. He later became closely associated with horological education and technical writing, building a reputation as both a skilled practitioner and a clear explainer of the craft.
Saunier is best remembered for his influential books on watchmaking, especially Guide-manuel de l'horloger, which was later translated into English as A Treatise on Modern Horology in Theory and Practice. He also founded La Revue chronométrique in 1855, an important journal for French horology.
He died in 1896, but his work continued to circulate long after his lifetime. For readers interested in the history of timekeeping, he stands out as a writer who brought together workshop knowledge, technical precision, and a teacher's instinct for making complex ideas usable.