Bovet is a Swiss brand of luxury watchmakers chartered on 1 May 1822 in London, UK by Edouard Bovet. They are most famous for their pocket watches manufactured for the Chinese market in the 19th century but today they produce high-end artistic watches.
They are known for intricate engraving, gem-setting, refined textures and very highly considered designs all across their range of timepieces. They are works of art in more ways than one and their collection is a must have for those who appreciate fine craftsmanship lent to a very emotive expression of timekeeping.
1. Bovet Fleurier SA
Bovet Fleurier SA is a Swiss brand that was founded in 1822 by Edouard Bovet. The company began making watches primarily for the Chinese market in the 19th century and is now a luxury watchmaker with a history of innovation and craftsmanship.
In the late 19th century, China had a strong interest in Western watches, and Bovet developed a line of highly-decorated pocket watches that were prized by high society members. These watches had intricate enamel paintings that depicted both Chinese and Western motifs.
The Bovet family also developed a tradition of producing matching pairs of timepieces that were highly-prized gifts for the Chinese. These timepieces were a gift from one Chinese person to another, and they symbolized good fortune and prosperity.
To make these prestigious timepieces, the Bovet brothers hired highly skilled master artisans to create each and every detail of their timepieces. They used a variety of metier d’art crafts to create highly finished dials, cases and movements.
They are known for their innovative designs and high-quality craftsmanship. The brand is also known for its unique casebacks that show off decorated movement parts.
Bovet watches are highly collectible and often sell for thousands of dollars, but they can be found in boutiques and at auctions for a fraction of the price. These unique and rare pieces are an investment worth pursuing, but they can be difficult to find in the United States.
The Bovet family has a long and distinguished history of producing exquisite watches that are influenced by the history of their region, Val de Travers in Switzerland. They have been creating timepieces since the late 18th century and are known for their decorative metier d’art crafts and artistic excellence.
In 2001, Pascal Raffy, a passionate collector of fine timepieces, bought the brand and has worked to preserve its horological heritage in its new incarnation. He has a goal to produce less than 2,000 watches a year, so each piece is unique and exclusive.
The Bovet brand is a premier example of how traditional European watchmaking meets the demands of contemporary luxury consumers. It has its own movements and dials, and employs its own craftspeople to produce these highly crafted timepieces. It also has its own hairsprings and case makers, which allows it to maintain control over quality and ensure that the end result is the best possible.
2. Manufacture de Cadrans
Bovet is a family-owned watchmaker that has a long history of producing highly-refined timepieces. The company has an expansive portfolio of artisanal dials that are sought after by top brands.
They are also well-known for their miniature enamel painting. This age-old technique is highly complex and requires the use of rare mother of pearl, gold leaf and silver paillons.
Their workshop is staffed by around 15 watchmakers who specialize in the assembly and fine-tuning of their movements. Their precision and immense experience ensure that the quality of their work is always outstanding.
These artisans also create the dials for all of Bovet’s timepieces. These are some of the most beautiful and intricate designs that you’ll find in the industry today.
In addition to this, Bovet is known for their signature Amadeo cases that are crafted from black lacquer and white mother of pearl. These are a perfect match for the bespoke engraving on their dials.
The Manufacture de Cadrans is a special division of Bovet that produces dials for their timepieces. They develop some of the most intricate and unique dials in the industry, and their mastery of traditional hand-crafting techniques ensures that their pieces are some of the finest in the world.
It is through these techniques that they are able to craft timepieces with unparalleled precision and sexlessness. The bespoke engraving on their dials is also a very popular request, as it makes each piece truly unique.
As part of this dedication to their craft, they have a strong commitment to exclusivity. They only produce around 30% of their watches each year and they handcraft them in-house to ensure that they are a true piece of art.
Their craftsmanship and passion for creating unique pieces of art make them a highly-respected brand that is beloved by collectors worldwide. As a result, they are able to sell their watches at some of the highest prices in the world.
This is why it is important to be careful when purchasing a Bovet watch, as counterfeit versions of their timepieces are often found in the market. As such, you should always buy a watch from a reputable dealer or a trusted online shop.
3. Dimier Manufacture
The Dimier Manufacture, created by Pascal Raffy after he bought Bovet in 2001, is responsible for supplying movements to the brand’s timepieces. These precision movements are engineered, designed and manufactured to Bovet’s specifications. They are made in Switzerland with the highest quality materials and are truly exceptional watches that are an excellent addition to any watch collection.
To achieve this, they employ a staff of around thirty artisans who work exclusively for the company. They have a wide range of skills, including the ability to cut the teeth of wheels and pinions as well as burnishing pivots, and they are also skilled at machining balance springs.
Another skill is the ability to design and develop bespoke dials for the brand’s watches. These designs are often incredibly innovative and aesthetically beautiful.
The most famous dials in the Manufacture’s catalogue are those that feature a reversible movement (such as the Amadeo convertible case). These watches can be worn as a wristwatch, a pocket watch or a table clock without any tools needed.
There is an extremely high demand for these special timepieces. They are priced at a premium because they are unique and are not found in every store.
For these reasons, it is important to buy from a reputable dealer. These dealers will be able to offer you the best price for your Dimier watch.
It is always a good idea to look at the history of a company when buying an item from them. It can help you to determine whether it is a company that has a longstanding history of success and quality or whether they are just beginning to make a name for themselves.
You can also find information about the people who worked at a specific brand and how long they were with the company. This will help you to get a better understanding of how the brand was run and what type of people worked for it.
To sell your Dimier watch, it is important to use a reputable watch auction site. This will ensure that you will receive the highest market value for your watch and it will be a hassle-free process.
4. Swiss Made
As the name suggests, Swiss Made is a term that indicates that the watch was produced in Switzerland. Under Swiss law, this label must be displayed on the caseback of a watch if it meets certain criteria. These criteria include the quality of the movement, the quality of the case, the quality of the strap and the design.
However, it’s worth noting that the term “Swiss Made” is not always applied by all watch brands. For example, Seiko watches are often not considered to be Swiss Made since they use quartz movements, which are not made in Switzerland.
Still, this does not mean that a watch from Seiko or any other manufacturer cannot be classified as Swiss Made. In fact, the term “Swiss Made” is increasingly used by manufacturers of high-quality timepieces as a way to differentiate themselves from competitors.
Many of these manufacturers, such as Bovet, also manufacture some components in-house and respect the Swiss artisanal processes that go into each piece. This helps them maintain a high level of quality and exclusivity in their products, which is important to the brand.
For instance, Bovet has a factory in Tramelan where they produce all the components that make up their watches. The company produces its own hairsprings, escapements and regulating organs, which are then incorporated into their timepieces.
It’s also worth noting that the company manufactures their own balance springs, which are an essential part of a timepiece’s mechanical operation. The company is a pioneer in the field of Swiss horological manufacturing and is renowned for its excellence.
In addition to the production of the watches themselves, Bovet has a subsidiary that designs artisanal dials for their watch models. Their Manufacture de Cadrans specializes in developing bespoke dials and uses traditional hand-crafting techniques.
With these facilities, Bovet is able to create highly unique dials for its timepieces that are not readily available in the market. For instance, Bovet’s Miss Audrey Sweet Art series features a dial made from real sugar crystals that have been laid out in ombre coloring.
These nuances and details are what make Bovet watches so special. They are not only beautiful, but also very emotional expressions of timekeeping that appeal to people who like a more ornamental approach.
