time-keeper


“The Journey of Time”: a new book to celebrate Bovet’s 200 years

Español
March 2023


“The Journey of Time”: a new book to celebrate Bovet's 200 years

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Bovet, with chapters covering the history of the House, historical advertising, modern Bovet, and a look toward the next 200 years, this expansive volume is the first to include historic and contemporary timepieces in the same publication.

T

o celebrate the 200th anniversary of Bovet, the House proudly introduces “The Journey of Time” book. Featuring an introduction by owner Mr. Pascal Raffy, this luxurious 240-page book celebrates the past, present, and future of this important House.

With chapters covering the history of the House, historical advertising, modern Bovet, and a look toward the next 200 years, this expansive volume is the first to include historic and contemporary timepieces in the same publication.

Bovet timepieces are in museums all around the world, from the British Museum in London, to the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, the MOMA in New York City, and even in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland.

To celebrate the House’s bicentennial, Bovet 1822 curated, for the first time anywhere in the world, a historical exhibit of 50+ timepieces representing the entire 200 years.

The “Journey of Time” book presents the exhibit timepieces in chronological order, from the 1800s (timepieces specifically produced for the Asian market, the Ottoman Empire, European royalty, and more), featuring cutting-edge, for the time, movements and decoration (engraving, appliques, enamel painting, pearl and gemstone settings, and more).

Timepieces featured in this section include the Mille Fleurs (1830), the Nightingale (1830), the Madonna and Child (1850), and the Lake Leman Landscape (1830), to highlight a few. The book continues with timepieces from the early 1900s, including the timepiece that inspired the patented Amadeo system and the 19Thirty Collection, the Easel Chronometer (1930), and then continues on to the famous Bovet chronographs from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

The last chapter of the book focuses on the timepieces produced during Mr. Raffy’s stewardship, from 2001 to the present. Included are the ground-breaking astronomical timepieces, the GPHG award-winning timepieces, the Pininfarina and Automobili Pininfarina collections, as well as the many high complications and horological marvels that Bovet has developed.

“The Journey of Time”: a new book to celebrate Bovet's 200 years

Also featured are the ground-breaking bespoke Rolls-Royce timepieces designed for the $26 million Boat Tail coach-built project. These timepieces were produced from a clean sheet of paper, using the Amadeo system, and can be mounted into the dashboard of the Boat Tail Roll. Lavishly illustrated, featuring more than 200 beautiful photographs, this volume is a must-have for any watch lover. Each timepiece is presented in incredible detail: case material and size, movement, complication, decoration, special aspects, and more. The royal blue satin fabric cover is gorgeously adorned with real gold leaf embossing, the pages all have gilde technique. In addition, each main section has a divider with a gold-leaf motif inspired by Bovet 1822’s history, and the thick Tatami White paper used throughout is a pleasure to touch.

“To celebrate 200 years, I wanted to exhibit as many of the key pieces that define Bovet’s history in one place for the very first time,” explains Mr. Raffy. “What the House of Bovet has done over its 200 years leaves me in awe, and inspired me to continue the legacy of the Bovet brothers. The Journey of Time commemorates this exhibit for all time.”

The Europa Star Newsletter