Important Watches, Collectors’ Wristw...

Hotel Noga Hilton, Nov 14, 2004

LOT 119

?Revolutionary Clockwatch? Farjaire, a Paris, No. 1834, circa 1795. Fine and very rare silver astronomical clockwatch striking duodecimal hours and half hours, with phases of the moon and dial with decimal and duodecimal hour indications.

CHF 20,000 - 25,000

EUR 13,000 - 16,000 / USD 16,000 - 20,000

Sold: CHF 23,000

C. Two-body, ?Directoire?, engraved back, pierced on the edge for sound. D. White enamel, inner Breguet decimal hours, inner quarter-hour divisions, outer Breguet duodecimal hours repeated twice, outermost minutes, windingand phases of the moon apertures. Blued steel ?spade? hands. M. 56 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full-plate withcylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement brass balance with flat balance spring, continental cock, count wheel under the striking barrel, striking on a large ball.Signed on dial and movement.Diam. 68 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 29 - 01

Notes

Tardy lists Farjaire in Paris at the Rue de Bourgogne between 1806 and 1820. After the French Revolution a new digital system was adopted, which affected weights and measures as well as time. The entire system for the measurement of time was changed. The 24-hour day was divided into ten hours, each having 100 minutes, each minute being subdivided into 100 seconds. Thus, for example, 12:30 PM was 5:20:83.3 in decimal time. The decimalization of time was introduced on November 24, 1793. Whereas the new standards for weights and measures were relatively easy to implement, the new division of time proved impossible to enforce because the traditional system was too deeply ingrained in people?s minds. Therefore the provision for decimal hours was suspended on April 7, 1795, leaving the mandatory Revolutionary calendar in place.