Rare French silver pocket watch with decimal time Circa 1890

Silver open faced Revolution pocket watch by Edmond Bourquenez
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A very rare gentleman’s pocket watch with decimal time Montre Système Décimal, circa 1890.
Polished silver case with an engraved bezel. Signed white enamel dial with radial decimal Arabic numerals, outer minutes track with decimal Arabic minutes, subsidiary dial for the seconds, and gold Louis XV hands. Bridge movement, ébauche: H. & C. Robert, three-arm ring balance.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight: 89 g
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Signed: Edmond Bourquenez
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Revolutionary France in the 1800s was not the only one to attempt a simplification of timekeeping and to move from the awkward 24 hours and 60 minutes and seconds to a much more convenient decimal system. After decimal time was abolished again after 1806, it still had its advocates throughout the 19th century, some of them even very prominent. Famous people such as Saunier recommended the decimal system and even Paul Ditisheim created timekeepers that showed the decimal time. This timepiece has a lovingly decorated case and classic Louis XV hands, it does not immediately remind the viewer of revolutionary times until we look at the odd layout of the numerals.
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Revolution pocket watch
A watch or clock dial was made in 1793, after the French Revolution which imposed the decimal calendar. The year was divided into 12 months and each month into three 10-day periods known as décades. The day was divided into 10 hours and each hour into 100 minutes. The decimal or Republican dial was therefore graduated from 1 to 10. Never accepted, manufacture of these dials ceased in 1795.