Lot 421

L'Epine à Paris, Case No. 319, 57 mm, 119 g, circa 1790
An unusual verge pocket watch with French Republican Calendar
Case: silver, case maker's punch mark "AHK". Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, three-arm brass balance.
The enamel dial has two date indications - the inner, red display has Arabic numerals, while the additional outer date indication has the French words Primidi, Duodi, Tridi, Quartidi, Quintidi, Sextidi, Septidi, Octidi, Nonidi and Decadi and is divided into three sections with 10 units each.
French Revolutionary Watch - Three characteristics
1. the smaller movements from the Ancien Regime were adapted to the more fashionable, larger and flatter cases by means of a ring (see article "L'horlogerie francaise pendant la révolution de 1789" by Jean-Claude Sabrier)
2. Silver cases instead of the gold cases from the Ancien Regime, but the hinge is still made in gold.
3. The French Republican Calendar:
One month was divided in three decades of ten days each. At the end of the year five days were added, called "les jours complèmentaires". The days of each decade were called with their Latin name Primidi, first day of the first decade; Duodi, second day of the first decade; Tridi, and so on until Decadi, the tenth day. The Decadi corresponds to our Sunday and is displayed in a different colour. They only had three Decadi and we have four Sundays in a month!