Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, Nov 11, 2012

LOT 284

MORICAND ? DUAL TIME INDICATION SPECIAL 24 HOUR ROTATION Ch.t Moricand a Genève, No. 34660. Made circa 1790. Very fine and extremely rare, 18K gold pocket watch with dual meantime dials, one with 24-hour rotation and dual-date calendar.

CHF 6,000 - 8,000

USD 6,500 - 8,500 / EUR 5,000 - 6,500

C. Three-body, ?Directoire?, polished. D. White enamel with outer Arabic numerals for the 24-hours, 12-12 and 12-24 in each half, the hour hand making one rotation in a 24-hour period, outer minute track, further subsidiary meantime dial with Arabic numerals and outer minute divisions, date and days of the week dials. Fine pierced gold tulip hands. M. 45 mm, gilt brass full plate with turned pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, fl at balance spring, continental cock with polished steel endplate, silver regulation dial. Dial and movement signed. Diam. 54 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2

Very good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3-75-01

Good

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Slightly restored soft enamel

HANDS Original

Notes

This rare watch has the feature of a 24-hour dial which requires special gearing beneath the dial to facilitate the main hour hand to make one revolution in a 24-hour period, the smaller meantime dial making the usual 12-hour rotation. Both dials are set to the same time and the purpose of the watch was to allow the wearer to know if it was daytime or nightime. The small dial provides the time at a glance, then the diurnal and nocturnal hours are read from the 24-hour dial. Christian Moricand (1715-1791) was a watchmaker who from 1752 to 1755 was associated with his brother Benjamin and François Colladon. Several other associations followed.