447,300 CHF
"The First Decimal Marine Watch - Made for the Chevalier de Borda" Louis Berthoud, No. 26/2440. Researched, planned and made between 27th January 1792 and 19th June 1793 for the Chevalier de Borda, famous mathematician, physicist, political scientist, navigator, and father of the standard "Meter", the basis of the metric system. Considered by Berthoud to be his most important chronometer. Extremely fine, unique and historically important high-precision pocket chronometer with an innovative wheel train especially designed to produce decimal time, Berthoud's spring detent chronometer escapement, anti-friction rollers, dead center seconds and regulator dial. Accompanied by a mahogany deck box and specially bound booklet. Four-body, "bassine", polished, the back engine-turned with engraved foliate monogram. Hinged silver cuvette. White enamel by Lucard (Place de Thionville), inner radial Roman numerals I-X, outer minutes and seconds track calibrated to 100 minutes/seconds, arrowhead five-second indexes. Blued steel "spade" hands. Notes We are indebted to Mr. D. Reggiani of Savona, whose exhaustive technical and historical study in Italian (from which we have taken the draw ings here published), done in 1982 , will accompany this lot . This watch was considered by Louis Berthoud to be the most important of the chronometers he made. Literature: "La Longitude en Mer à l’Heure de Louis Berthoud et Henri Motel" by Jean-Clude Sabrier, Antiquorum Editions, Genev
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2006-11-12
