Swiss rare double-sided world time pocket watch Circa 1900

Silver double-sided world time watch by Thiébaud Frères
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A rare double-sided Swiss pocket watch with world time and indications of day and night, circa 1900.
The model shown has a silver case, but there are also versions with metal cases, stainless steel and gold. The record-breaking number of around 150 cities and islands are entered on the world timesheet on the reverse – including the most important stations of the Trans-Siberian Railway as an interesting detail, each marked with a circle. The side crown is used to position the day/night disc, which rotates over this small print index of places. This watch was sold under the brand name Hora Universa.
Silver polished case, glazed on both sides. First dial: white enamel with radial Arabic numerals, outer minutes track, subsidiary dial for the seconds, and Louis XV hands; Second dial: white enamel with a rotating central day/night disc inscribed with 150 world locations. The movement has a lever escapement, 3/4 plate movement, screw compensation balance and was available in various diameters up to 18 lines.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 106 g
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Signed: Hora Universa
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Thiébaud Frères, Swiss watch manufacture
The Thiébaud Frères company was located at 99 rue Charrière in La Chaux-de-Fonds . The company was mentioned in 1890. The company was owned by the brothers Gustave Alphonse and Louis Edouard Thiébaud and was also known as Gustave & Louis Thiébaud. In 1890 Gustave Thiébaud received a Swiss patent No. 2099 for a “flyback” sweep second and in 1892 a Swiss patent no. 5664 for an odometer for all types of vehicles, especially for bicycles, which indicates the time and the distance covered. In 1904, the company received a patent no. 31,614 for an automatic display of the world time for use on watches.