Olivier Droz a Besancon

Olivier Droz a Besancon, circa 1793. Extremely rare and important silver, double face, Duodecimal and Decimal watch with visible balance and complete Gregorian and Republican calendars. Double body, Directoire glazed on both faces. White enamel eccentric on the front with Breguet numerals for the duodecimal time, subsidiary dials the month of the Gregorian calendar above, with concentric red indication of the Republican months: Vendemiaire, Brumaire, Frimaire, Nivose, Pluviose, Germinal, Floreal, Prairial, Messidor, Thermidor and Fructidor; the dates and days of the week of the Gregorian calendar with symbols of their planets. Gold hands. White enamel eccentric on the rear face with Breguet numerals for the ten hours of the Decimal time, subsidiary dials for the thirty dates of the Republican calendar and the ten days of the decade: Primidi, Duodin Tridi, Quantidi, Quintidi, Sextidi, Septidi, Octidi, Nonidi, Decadi; circular aperture for the visible balance cock and semi-circular sector for the Fast/Slow regulator. Gold hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring and gilt brass continental cock with garnet end-stone. Signed on the dial. Diam. 58 mm. Notes The Decimal time and the Republican calendar were established by the Convention on 5 October 1793, but if the Republican Calendar was in use in France until the 1st January 1806, the decimal time, which was not obli Read more…