The French Carriage Clock originated in France during the 19th Century. Parisian Horologist Abraham-Louis Breguet originally designed the clock for the very wealthy. The clock, apart from telling the time, was also able to show the date and the temperature.

By carriage clock, the word carriage was derived from the French word meaning "carry-able" rather than the horse-drawn carriages. They were also called "officer's clocks" because Napoleon Bonaparte ordered his military chiefs to carry a carriage clock with them at all times, after he had almost lost a battle because one of his officers was late. Later on, orders placed with master clockmakers for a carriage clock always included the reference "a clock for an officer".

The French carriage clock typically took the form of a metal-framed case that was glazed on all four sides and had a carrying handle on top. For Breguet's highest quality carriage clocks, he used a case of individual design that consists of a round topped, humpback case with silver chains at the top for carrying. The firm of Breguet made these carriage clocks between 1812 and 1830.

After a few different clock creations, Breguet made a great change by removing the pull-cord design that needed winding to keep the clock working accurately. He introduced a new design that made use of a piston that automatically wound the clock with just a push. Breguet’s use of portability and size was the reason for the demand in carriage clocks. At present, carriage clocks signed by Breguet are extremely sought after.

Along with the production of the aristocratic clocks of Breguet, an industry of semi-mass produced carriage clocks was promoted by another Parisian clockmaker-Paul Garnier. Paul Garnier made quite distinctive clocks. He incorporated his standard case, dial and hand designs which was associated often with the Garnier 'Chaff-cutter' escapement that was supposed to overcome problems in time-keeping and regulation.

The three most well known French carriage clock makers of the post 1850 period are Drocourt, Jacot and Leroy. Drocourt made fine clocks with most being housed in Gorge cases. Both Drocourt and Leroy made use of the movement by clock maker Henri Lamaille.

Henri Jacot, on the other hand, is one of the most keenly collected of the carriage clock makers. Clocks by Jacot are always of excellent quality and have a number of exclusive features. The white enamel dials generally have a thin 'inner' ring sighted around the inside of the chapter ring whilst the backplate bears the trademark of a parrot (a jacot is a french parrot) on a perch with the initials H.J

The French were the first producers of the carriage clock. The French carriage clocks were made with precision and elegance that the English and Swiss clockmakers mimicked but never seemed to replicate. Though popularity of the French carriage clocks waned with the introduction of wristwatches, they are now one of the most sought after antique clocks. They command high prices because of its distinctiveness, precision, and elegance that no one can match.