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Bovet Watches - Engineering Brilliance
In a bid to revive the long-lost tradition of engraving and decorative arts in the watchmaking industry, Pascal Raffy resurrected Bovet in 2001, a brand synonymous with miniature paintings on the dials and a distinct approach towards decorative cases.
Bovet was initially founded by Édouard Bovet in 1822, a Swiss watchmaker. At that particular time, London was considered the heart of the watchmaking industry. So, Bovet decided to move his watchmaking operations to the city of London. From 1822, the house of Bovet started churning out timepieces under the name of Bovet Fleurier in London. Known for crafting timepieces that were embroidered with hand-made miniature paintings, the brand was noticed by the Emperor of China and enjoyed a significant following in the Orient. In 1855, a pair of enamelled watches employed in the court of the Emperor of China won the gold medal in the Universal exhibition in Paris. The legacy of Bovet Fleurier timepieces in China was such that these timepieces by Bovet Fleurier were used as currency in China. These two rare timepieces can still be seen inside the Museum of the Forgotten City in Beijing.
Post the Chinese admiration, Bovet watches expanded their reach throughout the world. In 1939, Bovet filed a patent for a Mono Split-Second chronograph, a movement still revered by the watch collectors around the world.
The Fleurisanne
The relationship between engraving timepieces and Bovet is almost inseparable. This is further reinforced by the introduction of an engraving technique from the 19th century, the Fleurisanne. A speciality of Bovet, this technique is used to beautify the bridges, bars, and rotors of a movement. The process of carving metal in high-relief with a conflicting background, the Fleurisanne is a process that makes watches by Bovet unique.
The Fleurier
The Fleurier collection entails the Fleurier-ship of Bovet and depicts its history and tradition in the finest way.
One such series under the Fleurier collection is the 19Thirty. Engraved with an ornamental pattern named the Guilloché on the dial, the 19Thirty series is a series of limited-edition timepieces. While exploring the dial, one can experience a dark blue shade from one angle and an opulent shade of turquoise from another.
The hand-wound movement inside this collection has a power reserve of seven days with a single barrel. Enclosing this movement is a 42mm case available in 18k red gold or stainless steel.
Another collection that stands out in the Fleurier collection is Miss Audrey. The Miss Audrey series won the ladies watch prize in 2020 by the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève—depicting the sheer excellence Bovet holds in the watchmaking sector. With an automatic movement, this series of timepieces is equipped with a power reserve of 42 hours and the patented Amadeo convertible system.
The case, bezel, and iconic bow are studded with 103 round-cut diamonds. Whereas, the Amadeo convertible system easily lets the wearer convert it into a desk clock, necklace or pocket watch.
Apart from the 19Thirty and Miss Audrey series, the Fleurier collection is accoutred with series such as Monsieur, Virtuoso III, and Virtuoso V.
The Dimier
The Dimier collection houses the Recital series, a perfect blend of Bovet’s bearings and its craftsmanship.
Known for the iconic bow at 12 o’clock, Bovet decided to create a series of timepieces that would lose the iconic bow and instead invest itself in the mechanical arena. This in turn created the Récital series, a series of timepieces that marks the mechanical acumen of the brand. This series includes the much-appreciated 22 Grand Récital, the 23 Turquoise, the 26 Brainstorm, 27, and 29.