Horological Meandering

KIH
[Purist]
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Bovet - one of the least discussed brands here

Hi all,

Bovet is one of the least discussed brand here.  What do we know or we do not know about this brand?  There was a collection presentation at The Hour Glass Japan and here are the photos and some details of the brand and its line-up.

Hope you don't mind a bit long post.


1. Line-up
There are roughly three (3) lines in Bovet collection:
 - Amadeo Concept that includes Fleurier, Complications, Grandes Complications, Bovet by Pininfarina
 - Collection Sportster
 - Collection Dimier

Amadeo is the mainstream of Bovet in that they can take three forms - wrist watch, table clock, and pocket watch.  Note that Amadeo is the name of his son - and also note that the advertisement of Bovet in which father and son are depicted are actually the owner Mr. Pascal Raffy and his son Amadeo Raffy.

Fleurier - sounds familiar?  Yes, Bovet is one of the founding members of the "Qualite Fleurier Certification" together with Chopard, Parmigiani, and Vaucher.

Dimier - the name of the factory.  This collection is for high complication and focus on mechanical achievement rather than traditional "three way" Bovet style.

Sportster - the most popular one, in terms of the number of the unit sold.  Mostly SS.


2. How does this "three way conversion" works?
Here is the video how it is converted.  Pretty easy and simple.  I am impressed.





3. Bover, the manufacture.
(Excerpts from "Tribune des Arts"): The Head Quarter of Bovet, "Le Chateau de Motiers" was originally built in the early 14th century by Rodolphe IV, Count of Neuchatel, and was successively occupied down through the centuries by the lords of the valley.  In 1835, the State sold it to Henri-Francois Du Bois-BOVET, and the descendants of the Bovet family in turn donated it to the Canton of Neuchatel in 1957.... In 2006, the Neuchatel state authorities were looking to sell this castle of which the upkeep was proving too expensive.  Mr. Pascal Raffy was the only potential buyer in a position not only to purchase it, but above all to ensure the long-term preservation of this unique heritage site so fondly cherished by the people of the canton..... thus the brand Bovet could return to its birthplace.





Le Chateau de Motiers.





Inside the castle.

Bovet has roughly 250 people and capacity to produce for 1000 to 2000 pieces a year.


4. Collections

- Collection Sportster (as mentioned above, the model on the panel are Mr. Pascal Raffy and his son Amadeo)












































- Amadeo Fleurier









MOP dial








Black (cold ) Enamel dial








White (cold) Enamel dial




- Amadeo Complications





























- Amadeo Grandes Complications

































- Collection Dimier

































 - Bovet by Pininfarina
(Black and Red are Bovet color)



The right hand side is 2010 model "Ottanta" and on the left is 2011 model "Chronograph Cambiano".
Bovet and Pininfarina has 15 years of contract in which Pininfarina provides one model every year - 13 more models to go!















Back of Ottanta - has another hour hand.  The small rotor is  on the right side.



Back of Chronograph Cambiano







80 years of Pininfarina history in Italian.  Pininfarina was founded in 1930 - this 2010 model is its 80th anniversary design.  It is so 80th that even the tourbillon rotates in 80 seconds.













































5. My favorites
No. 1 - Fleurier 39 (39mm, enamel dial)
Very simple design and wearable size for my smallish wrist.






Double barrel 72 hours power reserve.























Well-thought design: the hinge is ceramic and 10,000 times open/close durability.



Black enamel is irresistible...





















No. 2 - Reversible 7 day Tourbillon 44mm
- the back displays the same time as the front.  But think about it, the hands rotates "clock-wise" on both sides... it is NOT an easy mechanism.



Meteorite dial on the front.











And the back displays the same time.

















































6. Appendix - dedication..?
A director of Bovet Japan was wearing this.... (made in Japan, though... not official













Hope you enjoyed the collection and discovered something you didn't know about Bovet.

Ken

This message has been edited by KIH on 2011-04-17 03:35:49