13,800 CHF
Unsigned, made circa 1793 from a movement produced before the Revolution by Vassalduhamel a Paris, No. 923. Extremely rare silver, eight day going, Decimal and Duo-decimal watch with Republican calendar, showing both the minutes of the Decimal and the Duo-decimal times. Double body, Louis XVI, polished. White enamel with Breguet numerals for the ten decimal hours and the 100 minutes, outer rings for the 24 duo-decimal hours, the 60 minutes and the Republican calendar of 30 days (slightly restored). Gold "sun" and Breguet hands. Full plate gilt brass, fitted on a larger hinged gilt brass rim, with square baluster pillars, eight day going five wheel train, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental Louis XVI cock with polished steel end-piece. Gilt brass dust-rim secured by two screws. Signed on the back plate. In good condition. Diam. 59 mm. Notes Soon after the Revolution, large watches were much in favour but to meet the important demand of the market, the few watchmakers still working in Paris were obliged to use movements remaining from the stock produced by different makers, often well before the Revolution. Such movements were made for small watches in fashion during the reign of Louis XVI and therefore had to be enlarged with a rim to meet the new fashion. Eight day going Decimal watches are extremely rare, even more so when they show the minutes, both for the decimal and the duo-decimal times. Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1996-10-12
