Ranking the Five Best Bovet Watches
Bovet is a high-end luxury brand known for its decorative and innovative styling. The Swiss watchmaking company was founded in 1822 by its founder Edouard Bovet. The brand sent luxury pocket watches to the Chinese market in the 19th century. The London, England-based watchmaker has evolved and offers modern interpretations of classics with a unique infusion of artistic license taken by its designers. For your consideration and enjoyment, here are the five best Bovet watches of all time, ranked in their order of popularity and merit.
5. Bovet Amadeo Virtuoso V
A Blog to Watch chooses the Amadeo Virtuoso V as one of the most significant models created by Bovet. The first thing you notice is the novel placement of the date window in the center of the dial. It’s the first time we’ve seen this layout in a wristwatch. The Time is displayed in a half subdial that is shaped in the likeness of a speedometer dial that runs from zero to 60. It’s a nod to the automotive industry. The dial is available in two configurations in one timepiece. The first is as described above with a brilliant blue background with black perforations. The second is a skeletonized version that shows the delicate and intricate workings of the movement beneath with an exhibition dial in the back that you can see through The structure of the case is crafted of 18k white gold with a 43.5 mm width and depth of 15.7 mm. The Amadeo case is water-resistant to 30 meters and most closely resembles a wearable pocket watch with a chunky profile.
The movement is a caliber 113BM11AIHSMR beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour or 3 Hz. The power reserve is approximately five days. It is designed with an antique styling with dual dial functionality, hours, minutes, seconds, and date functions. Perhaps one of the most remarkable features of the Amadeo Virtuoso V is the capacity to attach the strap, generally alligator leather in two ways to highlight the solid case in the front or to flip it over for a skeletonized version. No tools are required to transform the watch. It’s comparable to a reversible jacket for two completely different styles with all the functionality in both versions. This is one of our favorite models from the innovative brand with the blending of old-world aesthetics with a modern twist and innovative technology. The model is the Amadeo Fleurier Virtuoso V reference ACHS016-50-P2018, and it is available from the manufacturer and at authorized boutiques for a starting price of $73,000.
4. Bovet 19Thirty Fleurier
Watches of Switzerland highlights the 19Thirty Fleurier as one of the simpler designs of the brand, however, it’s a complicated timepiece. This model features a dial with a white background and the time displayed on an inset larger subdial in a brilliant sunburst blue for the hours and minutes. The gold hands are highly legible to tell the time at first glance. The seconds are displayed in a smaller blue subdial at the bottom, with a matching gold hand. A unique use of blue and white draws the eyes to the center of the dial. Concentric subdials of silver with black print are offset at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions, bisecting the larger hours and minutes dial. The case, fixed bezel, and crown are made of 18k rose gold with a polished finish with a starting price of $37,500 from authorized boutiques.
3. Bovet Recital 11
Chrono 24 lists a lovely example of the Bovet Recital 11 for the price of $45,500. This is a limited edition piece Reference number TR11-WG-ORO-C1-04. The bezel and crown are embellished with genuine diamonds. The case is made of white gold with a diameter of 41mm x 37 mm. It’s a 2016 edition that is getting harder to find in the original box with papers of authenticity. The movement is an automatic caliber 1150-FP-001-PL-MIM with 28 jewels and a power reserve of 72 hours. One of the highlighted features is the moon phase complication. The dial is made of Mother of pearl with no numerals. It’s covered with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The strap is genuine crocodile skin leather. This watch is water-resistant to 3 ATMs. The hands are treated with SuperLuminova for illumination in low-light environments.
2. Bovet Perpetual Calender Double Face White Gold
Chrono 24 lists the Perpetual Calendar Double Face in White Gold for a value of $51,000. This is a limited edition watch with just 100 pieces ever produced. The case is crafted of 18k white gold with a matching fixed bezel and crown. The model was first released in 2020 with a retail price of $98,000. You have your choice of two dial layouts with fancy white gold appliques and a flying tourbillon. It’ a lovely pocket watch with a stand for a lovely display, that comes with a genuine crocodile leather strap when worn as a wristwatch. No tools are required to flip the timepiece over to reveal the second watch face.
1. Bovet Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two Tourbillon
Bovet brings us the Bovet Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two Tourbillon. This exquisite timepiece has a starting price of $251,700. It’s one of the most unique timepieces we’ve come across this year. The latest and perhaps most innovative version in the Virtuoso lineup is a men’s watch that features a Blue dial that takes up the upper portion of the dial with the appearance of a speedometer that runs from zero to 60. The dial is reversible with no tools required to showcase the backside with its skeletonized view of the movement thanks to the exhibition case back featuring a sapphire crystal. The dial is hand-decorated with a 44 mm writing slope case that resembles a pocketwatch modified for the wrist. The big date display is at the center of the front dial. The movement features a ten-day power reserve, minutes, hours, and seconds on the flying tourbillon. There s a range of material and dial choices from stainless steel to 18k white, gold, or rose gold with a chamfered and polished finish for the case, crown, and fixed bezel.
