Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two Red Gold Blue

3 300 000 kr

Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two Red Gold Blue

Ten-day power reserve with a single barrel
Hand decorated dial
Exhibition caseback
Seconds on flying tourbillon
44 mm trademarked writing slope case
Big date display

The Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two features a patented double face tourbillon, a patented spherical winding system, a patented tridimensional toothing with multiple gearing, a big date, and an incredible 10-day power reserve using just a single barrel.

Features & Functionality

The Virtuoso VIII elegantly blends BOVET’s two iconic cases, the Fleurier and the Dimier. It features an inclined crystal aperture on the 12-6 o’clock axis.

The steel is chamfered and polished, the disk plates are sunk and chamfered, and the tourbillon cage bridge is made of titanium to reduce the weight of the cage and prevent any magnetic charge.

Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two features a variable inertia balance wheel. A curved end hairspring was specifically designed for this caliber and balance wheel. It is fixed to the tourbillon bridge by double-ended mobile stud support.

The patented two-sided flying tourbillon is attached at the center of its axis. Distribution on either side of the escapement and balance-spring drastically reduces the lever-arm effect and friction.

The Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two features a magnificent blue aventurine glass dial that accentuates the functionality and legibility of its complications.

Adding to the stunning finishing, the watchmakers did not forget the comfort of the collector while making the date correction, as it does not require the removal of the timepiece. It is simply performed by pressing down on the iconic BOVET crown, positioned at 12 o’clock in the Fleurier bow cases.

About Bovet

For more than 200 years, Bovet 1822 has been manufacturing Swiss Handcrafted timepieces, introducing innovative designs and astounding complications that push the boundaries of traditional watchmaking.

Mission Statement

Since 1822, the House of BOVET has been focusing on the decorative arts, timepiece design, chronometry, and mechanical timekeeping ingenuity.

With its in-house capability, BOVET 1822 is committed to manufacturing its own components, including complicated movements, dials, cases, and even spirals (something only a handful of companies can claim).

Mr. Pascal Raffy

In 2001, the House of BOVET is purchased by Pascal Raffy, a collector of BOVET and other timepieces.

Mr. Raffy is now the sole owner of BOVET 1822.

In 2006, Mr. Raffy purchased DIMIER 1738, a manufacture of tourbillons and spirals, as well as a case manufacturer.

At the same time, he purchased the Castle of Môtiers, once owned by the Bovet family, and installed the headquarters of the brand and the timepiece assembly, final quality control, as well as the engraving workshop.

Under the visionary guidance of owner Mr. Pascal Raffy, BOVET 1822 acquired renowned tourbillon and dial manufactures in 2006. DIMIER 1738, now renamed BOVET 1822, immediately began producing the Maison’s movements, hair springs, and dials in-house.

Describing Bovet

These are the words we prefer to be used when describing BOVET:

Swiss Hand-Craftsmanship
Innovation
In-House Production
Cutting-edge Design
Risk-Taking
Traditional
The Human Touch
Manufacture

Integrated Manufacture

Today, Bovet is an integrated manufacture doing nearly 100% of the production and assembly of its timepieces.

Conception
Profile Turning, CNC, Electro Erosion
Tool Production
Stamping
Spiral Manufacture
Finishing
Polishing
Decoration
Engraving

Technical Specifications

FUNCTIONS

Hours, minutes, seconds on tourbillon, big date, power reserve indicator, Fleurier II

DIAMETER

44.00 mm

THICKNESS (with glasses)

13.45 mm

THICKNESS (without glasses)

7.00-9.40 mm

DIAL

Blue guilloché

CASE MATERIAL

18-carat Red gold weight 57,60 gram

BRACELET

Full skin alligator

BUCKLE

Pin in 18-ct red gold ardillon

WATER RESISTANCE

30 m / 3 ATM

MOVEMENT

Caliber: 17BM06-GD
Type: Hand-wound
Diameter (lines): 17’’’ (38.00mm)
Frequency: 18’000v/h
Power reserve: 240 hours
Tourbillon: Flying 1 minute (60 seconds)

Reference:

T10GD053 Blue guilloché Blackened Côtes de Genève

Warranty

5 Years

Options

History of Bovet

1797 – 1839

Establishment of the BOVET Dynasty

1797

Edouard Bovet was born in Fleurier. He was the son of Jean-Frédéric Bovet. He followed his father’s footsteps and became a master-watchmaker.

1818

Edouard Bovet left London April 20 aboard the Orwell, ship of the “Compagnie des Indes,” on a voyage to China. He arrived in Canton, on August 16, where he quickly sold four watches for the sum of CHF 10,000 representing the equivalent of one million dollars today.

1822

The House of BOVET, a family business, was registered on May 1st, in London. At that time, Edouard Bovet was residing in Canton, while his brothers, Alphonse and Frederic were in London, and Gustave was managing the workshops in Fleurier. Together, they established BOVET to be a leader in watchmaking for its exceptional level of decorations and chronometry. Edouard Bovet is recognized as the founder of the transparent case-back. The transparency revealed the peerless expertise of the Duplex escapement that equipped the BOVET movement until the arrival of the first Swiss lever escapements.

1835

The CHÂTEAU DE MÔTIERS was built in the 14th century, overlooking le Val-de-Travers and Fleurier. It was sold to Henri-François Dubois-Bovet.

1840 – 2000

BOVET’s Golden Age

1840

Frédéric Bovet left London and returned home to Fleurier, where he managed the watchmaking workshops that at the time employed 175 people.

1849

Edouard Bovet died in Fleurier at the age of 52, leaving his legacy in China. At that time, BOVET was a synonym of watch for the celestial (Chinese people), and used as a trade currency.

1855

During the Universal Exhibition held in Paris, BOVET won the gold medal in the category ‘luxury’ for a pair of enameled watches commissioned by the Emperor of China.

1889

Fritz Bovet, Alphonse’s eldest son, filed a patent for a flyback chronograph equipped with a seconds-hand, minute-counter, and hour-counter that featured measurements of up to 24 hours. This ingenious mechanism offered the possibility of using the chronograph as a second-time zone.

1939

BOVET filed a patent for the Easel watch, which allowed the use of a pocket watch as a table clock. Another patent was filed for the Mono Split-Second chronograph, which today remains highly desirable among collectors.

1957

Henri-François Dubois-Bovet’s great grandchildren gifted the Castle of Môtiers to the state of Neuchâtel.

2001 – Present

The Pinnacle of the Watchmaking Arts

2001

Pascal Raffy, a passionate collector of Haute Horology, became sole owner of BOVET Fleurier SA.

2006

Pascal Raffy bought the Castle of Môtiers, classified as a historical monument, from the State of Neuchâtel, and established the first BOVET’s assembly workshop. To continue the legacy of the Bovet brothers, he soon integrated the DIMIER 1738 Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Artisanale and BOVET Manufacture of dials.

2007

To celebrate their mutual respect and admiration, the House of BOVET and Pininfarina established a partnership to create luxury sport timepieces that unites their passion for design and engineering brilliance.

2010

The House of BOVET premiered the patented Amadéo® convertible case, which allows you to transform your timepiece in a reversible wristwatch, table clock and pocket watch (or necklace watch) without the use of any tool.

2014

BOVET launched the Virtuoso II Caliber, the first movement not regulated by a tourbillon to be entirely developed and handcrafted in-house.

2015

Pascal Raffy unveiled two historical timepieces exclusively handcrafted by the BOVET’s artisans: the incredible Braveheart®, with 6 patents and an impressive 22-day power reserve, and the 19Thirty designed in homage to the pocket watches created by the Bovet family in the 1930s.

2018

Pascal Raffy’s commitment and dedication to the highest level of Haute Horology is both acknowledged and honored when the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards the Récital 22 Grand Récital, its most coveted award, the Aiguille d’Or.

2020

The Bovet Family welcomed Miss Audrey Raffy and her passion for Haute Horology, as she joined forces with her father Mr. Pascal Raffy to continue leading the pathway of Engineering Brilliance.

Mr. Pascal Raffy was honored to receive the 2020 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève award for Mechanical Exception for the magnificent Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter Two and the Ladies’ Watch award for the beautiful Miss Audrey timepiece.

Mr. Pascal Raffy’s long-term strategy and vision.

Heritage, Innovation, Emotion, and Passion

Mr. Pascal Raffy’s tremendous energy, paired with a long-term strategy and vision, has enabled him to raise the House of BOVET to the pinnacle of the watchmaking arts.

Haute Horlogerie

Pascal Raffy discovered the fascinating world of Haute Horlogerie during his childhood when Sundays were spent with his grandfather, a watch connoisseur who used to show him the timepieces from his collection. He would review the specific features of each, along with their history or their influence on the technical or artistic evolution of fine watchmaking.

That was enough to ignite an ongoing passion for Haute Horlogerie and even more importantly instil the human values and awareness of authentic luxury thus passed on to Pascal Raffy. These qualities now represent the pillars upon which the House of BOVET has built its success.

The Raffy‘s, originally hailing from the French Ardennes region and a family line originally named Raffin until the 17th century, settled briefly in Switzerland before Pascal Raffy – eager for independence at the age of 18 – set off for Paris where he studied law. It was during this period that he met his wife and acquired the first timepieces in his collection.

A Prestigious History

At the dawn of the 21st century, while taking a break in his career to focus on his children, Pascal Raffy was introduced to BOVET. The House needed an investor with a clear vision to restore its grandeur.

The prestigious history of the House dating back to 1822 along with its iconic watches, distinguished by their crown at 12 o’clock and their classic bow, immediately appealed to Pascal Raffy, who soon became the unique owner of BOVET in 2001.

At the time, he already had a precise long-term plan of the destiny he envisioned for the House. Perpetuating the peerless expertise of the in-house artisans, achieving vertical integration and the return of movements made entirely in-house were the main springboards to success that Pascal Raffy wished to instate at BOVET 1822.

The House of BOVET

The year 2006 was filled with positive developments for BOVET 1822. Within a few months, Pascal Raffy successively added BOVET 1822 Manufacture de Cadrans, DIMIER 1738 Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie, as well as the Château de Môtiers to the House of BOVET.

These acquisitions ensured the complete independence of the House and positioned it to raise its quality standards even further. Collectors, specialists, and keen observers of the watch industry have ever since saluted the technical advancements introduced by BOVET, while remaining in complete harmony with the tradition of watchmaking arts that have made the House so successful for almost two centuries.

Family House

In 2020, the Bovet Family welcomed Miss Audrey Raffy and her passion for Haute Horology, as she joined forces with her father Mr. Raffy to continue leading the pathway of Engineering Brilliance.

The addition of Audrey to the House of Bovet is another reiteration of the House’s principal value: Family. Since Mr. Raffy became the owner of the House 20 years ago, his commitment has been to honor watchmaking arts and to continue to handcraft timepieces that fascinate and enthrall the most demanding collectors.

The Amadéo® System

Contemporary horology notably owes him the introduction of the patented Amadéo® convertible system enabling the conversion of a timepiece into a table clock, a pocket watch, a necklace, or a reversible wristwatch without the use of any tools.

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