BOVET 1822 and Mr. Pascal Raffy are proud to present the Ateliers BOVET concept dedicated to the watchmaking arts and the technical excellence that has characterized the House of Bovet for nearly two centuries. It concentrates on the quintessence of decorative arts such as engraving, miniature painting, and watchmaking technology.
The craftsmen of the Ateliers BOVET demonstrate their propensity to innovate with the greatest respect for watchmaking traditions. While nearly 30% of the timepieces handcrafted today by Maison BOVET 1822 are unique pieces, the ones from the Ateliers BOVET allow collectors to bespoke their acquisition to a level of precision. The collector has the opportunity to join a team of specialists to define the specif technical and artistic detail of customization.
The first chapter of the Ateliers BOVET is the Virtuoso X Tourbillon timepiece which is limited to 10 pieces. Bovet’s Engineering Brilliance is presented in the decorative arts and the watchmaking techniques featured in this precious timepiece.
The fascination of Mr. Raffy as a collector for decorative arts, and an uncompromising definition of luxury watchmaking, inspired the development of the Virtuoso X Tourbillon timepiece. This model features the patented flying-tourbillon and a ten-day power reserve ensured by a single barrel, while displaying three distinct time zones. Local time is indicated in the centre of the dial, as well as on an eccentric dial on its reverse side. The two secondary time zones are harmoniously displayed on a horizontal axis on the front of the timepiece. They indicate the time of the cities chosen by the collector. It features a curved hour hand sweeping around a 24-hour scale.
In the centre of each secondary timezone is a hand-painted hemispherical globe. The upper section of each displays the name of the city corresponding to the time zone. A clever combination of correctors allows summer and winter time to be taken into account for each of the 24 time zones.
The Virtuoso X Tourbillon features unrivalled levels of personalisation and finishes. The collector will have the opportunity to select the names of the cities for each of the 24 timezones.
From the very beginning of development, watchmakers, artisans, engravers and miniature painters joined forces and worked together to bring perfectly balanced timepieces to life.
The reverse side of the Virtuoso X Tourbillon timepiece combines the talent of the artisans with the virtuosity of the engravers. The former crafted a flinqué dial in the purest tradition of the 18th and 19th century “cabinotiers”. The second artisans fully engraved the movement with the « Fleurisanne » motif, rendered famous by the Bovet brothers in the early 19th century. The depth of the engraving flows seamlessly across the movement bridges, striking a dazzling contrast with the dial and ensuring optimal readability.
Also, the “guilloché laqué” on the front side of the dial features a moon crescent shape graced by second and third timezones highlighting the mastery of the miniature painters. The globes of the second and third timezones are meticulously hand-painted in three dimensions. In the Ateliers BOVET, innovation is part of the tradition. The hand-painted globes are illuminated in the dark by an exclusive process that the Bovet brothers would not have denied.
The Virtuoso X Tourbillon timepiece features numerous facets that are unprecendented in the world of fine watchmaking. The patented Amadeo® convertible case system, which required seven years of study and development, houses this watchmaking jewel. It allows the collector to wear his wristwatch on two sides, face or reverse side, as a pocket watch or a table clock in a few simple steps without any tools. The reliability of this complication is certified by an independent laboratory for 30,000 conversion cycles undergoing any significant alteration featuring both the elegance and functionality of the case.
The Virtuoso X Tourbillon is available in 18K red gold, 18K white gold or in platinum. As other Bovet timepiece, it presents the criteria of excellence and innovation of fine watchmaking. Technicality, chronometry, and decorative arts are sublimated for the noblest expression of time. This concept offers to the collector the opportunity to be at the heart of the process from the creation. Each request is studied by BOVET’s team of specialists to meet the expectations of the collectors while respecting the watchmaking traditions.
VIRTUOSO X
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Reference Number: AIVX004
LIMITED EDITION 10 movements
CASE
Type: Amadéo® convertible system
Diameter: 46 mm
Thickness: 17.20 mm
Material: 18K red gold, 18K white gold or Platinum
Bracelet: Full skin alligator
Buckle: 18K red gold or white gold ardillon
Chain: 18K red or white gold
Water resistance: 30m
MOVEMENT
Type: Hand wound movement
Diameter: 16 ½ ’’’
Frequency: 18,000V/h
Power reserve: 10 days
Tourbillon: 1-minute flying tourbillon
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds on tourbillon, 2nd and 3rd Timezone with hemispherical earth map, 24h hand and 24 city disc. Reversed hand-fitting (hour and minutes), power reserve indicator
DIALS: Blue flinqué dials and hand engraved with fleurisanne motif on the back side. The Earth globes are painted by hand with luminescent material
GUARANTEE: 5 years
PATENTS: Amadeo®convertiblecase
Double face tourbillon
PRICE: CHF. 325‘000.-
