Bovet


Pocket watch made for the Chinese market, circa 1860

Born in Fleurier, Neuchâtel (Switzerland) in 1797, Edouard Bovet, the founder of BOVET moved to London in 1814, and went to Canton as a watch repairer in 1818.

In this sole port of China which opened for European merchants and businessmen at the time, Edouard had decided to found a partnership (i.e. BOVET) with his brothers to import fine watches from Switzerland to China in 1822.

With offices in London and a manufacturing centre in Fleurier managed by his brothers, BOVET soon became the preferred source of Swiss watches for wealthy Chinese.


Bovet - Jumping Hours with Miniature Painting, 2007

In 1855, BOVET was awarded a gold medal at the world exhibition in Paris for a pair of identical watches ordered by the Chinese emperor.


Bovet - Sportster (White enamel dial with Chinese zodiac signs), 2005
Stainless steel chronograph
Automatic self-winding Calibre
Bovet 13BA01 movement
42-hour power reserve
Certified chronometer COSC
Water-resistant to 100 metres



Tourbillon 22 Days Retrograde Date and Dual Time Zone, 2006

Two generations later, the Bovets were running a flourishing Swiss-Chinese commercial enterprise and were no longer interested in watchmaking. The name was sold several times and relaunched in 1997.

http://bovet.com/

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