Antiquorum Auctioneers since 1974

Geneva, Nov 08, 2026

LOT 293

UNSIGNED, SWITZERLAND, REVOLUTIONARY TIME, MADE FOR THE FRENCH MARKET WITH THE ORIGINAL BOX, SILVER

CHF 9,300 - 18,600

HKD 89,000 - 178,000 / USD 11,300 - 22,500 / EUR 10,000 - 20,000 / JPY 1,780,000 - 3,560,000

TO BE SOLD WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold: CHF 9,450

A very fine and rare, silver, manual wind open-face pocket watch with a polished “Directoire”-shaped case. White enamel dial with concentric indications for decimal and duodecimal time: black radial Roman numerals with Arabic 100-minute divisions, and Arabic numerals I–12 in each half of the dial, with outermost 60-minute divisions. Pierced gold hands.

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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-6-8

Good

Slightly oxidized

Slightly scratched
Movement: 3-8*

Good

Slightly scratched

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

Good

HANDS Original

Brand Unsigned, Switzerland

Model REVOLUTIONARY TIME

Year Circa 1794

Caliber 43 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement with micrometric potence adjustment, brass three-arm balance with flat balance spring, continental cock, silver regulation dial.

Diameter 56 mm.

Accessories Original box decorated with a highly symbolic Republican motif. At the centre is a fasces surmounted by a Phrygian cap, flanked by wing-like elements and surrounded by laurel branches. This iconography is closely associated with the French Revolution and the early French Republic, symbolising unity and authority (fasces), liberty (Phrygian cap), and victory and glory (laurel) and the key designed carved skull classic meaning''mementto mori'' (remember you must die).

Notes

Following the French Revolution, a new Republican calendar and decimal time system were introduced. The year was divided into 12 months of 30 days, followed by an additional five-day period (six in leap years). Each month comprised three décades of ten days. The 24-hour day was replaced by ten hours, each divided into 100 minutes and each minute into 100 seconds.

The decimal time system was introduced by law on 24 November 1793, although its practical use was suspended on 7 April 1795. This created a relatively brief period of approximately 18 months during which watches specifically designed for decimal time were produced. The Republican calendar itself remained in force until 9 September 1805.

Demand for Revolutionary watches quickly exceeded production capacity. As a result, watchmakers commonly converted existing duodecimal watches from stock. This required replacing the balance spring with a longer one, allowing the centre wheel to make ten revolutions per day instead of twelve, and modifying the motion work to achieve the required 1:10 ratio rather than 1:12. The indication of the 24-hour cycle was achieved through an additional train for the duodecimal minutes.