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Once more, the haute horology independent Maison BOVET asserts its specificity with new exceptional timepieces which take us on a journey between useful complications and delicate craftsmanship.
The travel theme has been a part of the Fleurier manufacture’s DNA since its founding in 1822 and even before that. In 1814, the Bovet brothers, both distinguished watchmakers, were among some of the first to venture to the far reaches of the globe in the spirit of exploration. In 1818, Edouard Bovet sailed to China to sell the first Bovet pocket watches there. The Tourbillon Edouard Bovet commemorates this defining moment of the brand’s history.
The Tourbillon Volant, introduced in 2015, has been fully re-thought to create a brand-new movement. It boasts a commanding 10 day power reserve provided by a single barrel smartly designed to be fully wound by only 75 turns of the crown. The manually wound caliber 16BM04-TT beats at a gentle 18,000 vph to power all the complications of this 60 piece limited edition. Its 46 mm case comes in 18K red or white gold or in platinum. The local time is displayed by central hours and minutes hands, delicately curved by hand in order to hover above the time zone displays. The small seconds are coupled with a patented flying double face tourbillon at 6 o’clock. A smart day/night domed indicator revolves anti-clockwise to mimic the sun’s natural course from East to West.
Then comes the true feats of this horological masterpiece – the two time zone displays at 3 and 9 o’clock. They show one of the 24 time zones available, with the corresponding city name in a window right above them, on two hemispherical domes representing a world map. A small ‘stick’ hand runs on a 24h dial right above the adequate meridian to indicate the exact time. These domes are hand-engraved, and the oceans’ surface is lowered and covered with blue Super-Luminova. The rendering is striking! The entire face of the watch lights up in dim light and one could spend countless hours discovering the details of the artistic engraving. To add to the prowess, the domes are made of titanium for a weight gain that minimizes the energy depletion thus enhancing the chronometry…but making the technical and artisanal craftsmanship more complex. Two correctors for each time zone provide an easy and quick setting of the marvels of creativity of this new patent. The Maison BOVET complications are not only beautifully aesthetic but also well-thought out and easy to use.
Thanks to the Amadeo patented reversible case mechanism, the happy owners of the Tourbillon Edouard Bovet will have the pleasure of using his masterpiece as a reversible bracelet watch, pocket watch or table clock. He or she will have the possibility to admire the second face which also unveils the skillful craftsmanship mastered by the Maison BOVET. The hand-made ‘fleurisannes’ engravings proudly display the excellence of the in-house craftsmen (at this level, they should be called ‘artists’). The typical architecture of the manufacture frame an off-centered dial at 12 o’clock. Its elegant roman numeral indexes are enhanced by a refined blue lacquered guilloche dial which plays wonderfully with light. The comma shaped power reserve counter complements finely this side of the timepiece.
One cannot resist grabbing a loupe to marvel at the expert work accomplished. Pure BOVET magnificence!
The same splendor exudes from the second model presented, the Virtuoso V. Also unveiled in 2015, it introduced a new complication through a regulator display with jumping hours in a large central window and retrograde minutes counted on a half-circle right above it at 12 o’clock. This year, the dial is adorned by guilloche of extreme complexity coated with 12 layers of translucent blue lacquer. Light plays on the dial which seems to be endlessly undulating. It creates a hypnotic vortex emanating from the central window and gliding towards the delicate bezel of the timepiece. Sterling work!
Powered by the Calibre Virtuoso II, which is a specialized DIMIER 1738 13BM11AIHSMR movement beating at 21.600 amp/h, this manually wound gem comes in a 43.5mm case finished in 18K red or white gold. It benefits from the reversible Amadeo system, therefore revealing a second face where the cherished symmetry of the Fleurier brand is epitomized. The off-centered hours and minutes dial at 12 o’clock echoes the delicate blue guilloche of the anterior face and bears roman numeral indexes. It is counter-balanced by a refined half-circle blue disk for the small seconds at 6 o’clock. The harmony of this side is complemented by the apparent wheels, their decorated bridges and two small apertures, left and right, in the main plate. The Geneva stripes finishing of all visible parts adds to the finesse to strike a perfect balance.
Once more, Maison BOVET expresses all its artisanal and artistic watchmaking know-how, as well as its mastery of complications. The manufacture understands how to make the latter useful and adapted to the needs of great travelers as much as to the desires of great collectors
