Hilda Petrini

Hilda Catharina Petrini (9 October 1838, Stockholm – 30 January 1895, Stockholm) was a Swedish watchmaker, clock maker and businesswoman. She has been referred to as the first female master of mechanics of her country.

Life and work Hilda Petrini belonged to a wealthy old merchant family of Italian descent in Stockholm. During her youth, Petrini was a skilful swimmer and for a time assisted Nancy Edberg, who gave swimming lessons for Louise of the Netherlands and her daughter Louise of Sweden.

Even as a young girl, her affinity for mechanics was noticeable. At that time [mechanics] was considered an unusual skill for a girl to master. Victor Söderberg, a manufacturer of chronometers, was at the family home on one occasion when he gave her some challenging mechanical exercises to do. Victor Söderberg was then amazed at the ease with which she completed them and immediately suggested that Hilda Petrini should train as a mechanic.

She died in Stockholm on 30 January 1895, at the age of 57, an event that was reported in national newspapers that recounted her work and success as groundbreaking for a woman.