Navy - J. Auricoste Onboard Chronometer Torpedo Attack French Navy 1960s Submarine
Artist: Auricoste
J. AURICOSTE Shipboard Chronometer – Torpedoing – French Navy – 1960s – Submarine / Warship MER26AUR001
Rare J. AURICOSTE mechanical shipboard chronometer, the official watchmaker to the French Navy, designed for French naval instrumentation in the 1960s. This chronometer was used in the command post for torpedo operations aboard submarines, as well as on torpedo boats and other military vessels carrying torpedoes.
This chronometer was also regularly used by the captain to assess the crew’s responsiveness during the numerous training exercises conducted aboard the ship.
An imposing precision instrument made of stainless steel, featuring a particularly robust design, with a large cream-colored dial graduated from 0 to 60 seconds and a small minute counter at 6:00.
It is designed to be recessed into the ship’s bulkhead at the command post or simply hung on a bulkhead; a single metal wire can be used to hang it on the wall, allowing for civilian reuse in a home...
The dial is signed
J. AURICOSTE
STATE NAVY CLOCKMAKER
The mechanical movement is also engraved:
J. AURICOSTE
10, rue La Boétie – Paris B
The AURICOSTE company was founded in Paris in 1854 by Émile Thomas, and it quickly specialized in timekeeping instruments. For over a century, it has maintained a special relationship with the French military—particularly the Air Force and, above all, the French Navy.
Historically, Auricoste has presented itself as “Watchmaker to the French Navy, the Bureau des Longitudes Observatory, the Army’s Geographical Service, and the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts.”
Throughout the 20th century, the company supplied numerous instruments to the French armed forces and, in particular, equipped various ships of the French Navy. Its own historical records specifically mention the Foch, the Clemenceau, and the Jeanne d’Arc, and later, numerous French patrol boats, ships, and submarines.
The period during which this unit was manufactured coincided with a particularly significant era for the French Navy.
In 1961, Auricoste equipped the aircraft carrier Foch; in 1963, the Clemenceau; and in 1964, the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc.
The company also notes that its time-keeping equipment was installed on numerous Navy vessels, including, later on, conventional and nuclear-powered submarines.
It is therefore particularly interesting to place this chronometer within its technical context: navigation stations, operations centers, bridges, and time-keeping rooms on French military vessels.
A small plate attached to the back bears the numbers:
64-1387 and 67-1438
The presence of these two serial numbers indicates a case from 1964 and a movement from 1967;
The chronometer is in working order.
The various functions have been tested: winding, starting, stopping, restarting, and resetting.
The watch functions correctly.
It should be noted—and this is the only issue—that the hand will need to be very slightly readjusted to zero, as it is currently off by about one-tenth of a second. This minor positioning issue does not affect overall operation and can be corrected by simply adjusting and tightening the hand.
The chronometer has a beautiful patina befitting its age and retains all the authenticity of a professional instrument.
Outer diameter: approximately 20 cm
Dial diameter: approximately 15 cm
Thickness: approximately 7.1 cm
Stainless steel case
Mechanical movement
A particularly decorative and historically interesting piece for collectors of the French Navy, submarines, scientific instruments, French military timepieces, or naval industrial heritage.
Rare J. AURICOSTE mechanical shipboard chronometer, the official watchmaker to the French Navy, designed for French naval instrumentation in the 1960s. This chronometer was used in the command post for torpedo operations aboard submarines, as well as on torpedo boats and other military vessels carrying torpedoes.
This chronometer was also regularly used by the captain to assess the crew’s responsiveness during the numerous training exercises conducted aboard the ship.
An imposing precision instrument made of stainless steel, featuring a particularly robust design, with a large cream-colored dial graduated from 0 to 60 seconds and a small minute counter at 6:00.
It is designed to be recessed into the ship’s bulkhead at the command post or simply hung on a bulkhead; a single metal wire can be used to hang it on the wall, allowing for civilian reuse in a home...
The dial is signed
J. AURICOSTE
STATE NAVY CLOCKMAKER
The mechanical movement is also engraved:
J. AURICOSTE
10, rue La Boétie – Paris B
The AURICOSTE company was founded in Paris in 1854 by Émile Thomas, and it quickly specialized in timekeeping instruments. For over a century, it has maintained a special relationship with the French military—particularly the Air Force and, above all, the French Navy.
Historically, Auricoste has presented itself as “Watchmaker to the French Navy, the Bureau des Longitudes Observatory, the Army’s Geographical Service, and the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts.”
Throughout the 20th century, the company supplied numerous instruments to the French armed forces and, in particular, equipped various ships of the French Navy. Its own historical records specifically mention the Foch, the Clemenceau, and the Jeanne d’Arc, and later, numerous French patrol boats, ships, and submarines.
The period during which this unit was manufactured coincided with a particularly significant era for the French Navy.
In 1961, Auricoste equipped the aircraft carrier Foch; in 1963, the Clemenceau; and in 1964, the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc.
The company also notes that its time-keeping equipment was installed on numerous Navy vessels, including, later on, conventional and nuclear-powered submarines.
It is therefore particularly interesting to place this chronometer within its technical context: navigation stations, operations centers, bridges, and time-keeping rooms on French military vessels.
A small plate attached to the back bears the numbers:
64-1387 and 67-1438
The presence of these two serial numbers indicates a case from 1964 and a movement from 1967;
The chronometer is in working order.
The various functions have been tested: winding, starting, stopping, restarting, and resetting.
The watch functions correctly.
It should be noted—and this is the only issue—that the hand will need to be very slightly readjusted to zero, as it is currently off by about one-tenth of a second. This minor positioning issue does not affect overall operation and can be corrected by simply adjusting and tightening the hand.
The chronometer has a beautiful patina befitting its age and retains all the authenticity of a professional instrument.
Outer diameter: approximately 20 cm
Dial diameter: approximately 15 cm
Thickness: approximately 7.1 cm
Stainless steel case
Mechanical movement
A particularly decorative and historically interesting piece for collectors of the French Navy, submarines, scientific instruments, French military timepieces, or naval industrial heritage.
1 200 €
Period: 20th century
Style: Other Style
Condition: Good condition
Material: Metal
Diameter: 20 cm
Reference (ID): 1823062
Availability: In stock
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