Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Oct 13, 2001

LOT 490

Levol (Paris), circa 1795.Fine and rare silver watch with Revolutionary decimal and duo-decimal indications.

CHF 5,000 - 6,000

USD 3,000 - 3,600

Sold: CHF 6,440

C. Two-body, "Directoire", polished with engraved initials on the back. D. White enamel, inner ring with Arabic numerals from 1 to 10 for the 10 hours and 10 x 10 minute divisions between each hour, outer ring with Roman numerals from I to XII repeated twice, outermost Arabic fifteen-minute Arabic markers for the duo-decimal minutes. Gold elaborate hands. M. 42,8 mm ø, hinged, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass balance, continental cock, rak and pinion regulator with silver plate.Signed on the movement.Diam. 59 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 6 - 14
Movement: 3 - 5 - 6*
Dial: 3 - 6 - 01

Notes

After the French Revolution a new digital calendar was adopted. The revolutionary year was divided into 12equal months having 30 days each and an additional 5-day (6-day in a leap year) holiday month; each monthwas divided into three decades of 10 days each. This republican calendar was effective until 9 September 1805.As concerns time measurement, the 24-hour day was divided into ten hours, each having 100 minutes, and each minute was subdivided into 100 seconds. The law was introduced on 24 November 1793, and the decimal hour systemwas suspended on 7 April 1795. These watches were therefore produced during a period of 18 months.