Rare Swiss silver pocket watch with two time zones Circa 1800

Silver watch with enamel painted dial by Robert & Courvoisier
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A rare Swiss verge gentleman’s pocket watch from Geneva with two time zones, circa 1800. The watch features a plain silver polished case and an enamel dial with polychrome enamel painting. It also includes two time zones, a subsidiary dial with radial Roman hours at nine o’clock, and a subsidiary dial with radial Arabic hours at three o’clock. Additionally, it has a full plate movement with verge escapement, chain/fusee, and a three-arm brass balance.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 96 g
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Signed: Robert & Courvoisier
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Between 1760 and 1840, certain principalities in Italy had already adopted the practice of using “mean time” with twelve hours a day, setting noon and midnight at 12 o’clock. Other regions continued to follow the old “Italian time”. As a result, travellers and those living near the borders required either two watches or a single watch with dual displays, similar to the present one.
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The origins of the Robert & Courvoisier Company can be traced back to the Josue Robert company, established in 1770. The company was initially founded by Josue Robert, and later his sons, grandson, and son-in-law, Louis Courvoisier, became involved in the business. Josue passed away a year after founding the company. In 1781, the company was renamed “Josue Robert & Fils,” with Louis Courvoisier holding a financial interest and overseeing the production of pocket watches. The portable officers’ watches produced by the Robert & Courvoisier company gained widespread acclaim during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These watches were supplied to Viennese watch dealers.