For the first time in this column, I have chosen to evoke a one-of-a-kind creation, naturally characterised by an impressive set of superlatives already implied by its name, in an article that is probably more personal than ever before. From my earliest childhood, my origins led me to spend a lot of time in the Val de Travers and particularly in Fleurier, and I often heard people evoke the “Bovets of China” with great respect, emotion and nostalgia, at a time when the local watch industry appeared to be teetering on the brink of extinction. From the 19th century onwards, the Bovet brand had acquired this nickname through its dealings with the Chinese market, an exotic and unusually bold approach for that era. The revival of the brand in the 1990s, after a lengthy slumber worthy of a sleeping beauty, may be considered a complete success.

This spectacular renaissance has been achieved in harmony with the aesthetic and quality values on which Bovet had built its initial reputation, while incorporating the best of today’s technological means.

Brand owner Pascal Raffy, who is strongly involved in the creation of all the brand products, was the instigator of this new masterpiece. He wanted it to be useful, practical, functional and in tune with his own requirements as well as those of his clients – to whom he lends an attentive ear through cultivating consistently close ties. The heart of this new gem is a Christophe Claret tourbillon and minute repeater movement that is already a benchmark in the field of exclusive prestige watchmaking. The mechanism was developed and produced in cooperation with this brilliant watchmaker. Adding two extra time zones might have initially seemed the easiest aspect to handle. But when Mr Raffy adds his very own grain of perfectionism, things are quite different and the movement design-engineers found them facing major new challenges in conceiving this complication. Even the positioning of these indications has been well thought out. The two additional time zones are positioned at 3 and 9 o’clock on either side of the central hand fitting, along the horizontal dial axis. It is thus possible to adjust the corresponding time zone to the cities located to “our” East on the time zone at 3 o’clock, and the one corresponding to cities to “our” West on the time zone at 9 o’clock. Read-off therefore becomes entirely intuitive and one no longer needs to worry about whether the second time zone is ahead of or behind local time. In addition to showing the time, each of the additional time zones displays the (chosen) name of a major city corresponding to the time zone indicated. No less than 24 cities are indexed around the time zone at 3 o’clock and 16 on the one at 9 o’clock. This idea is not immediately apparent at first glance, but becomes extremely appreciable as soon as you start to read the indications.

Endowed with a 52-hour power reserve, the movement powering the watch is also equipped with a tourbillon and a splendid minute repeater under-dial work. Activated by a repeater slide, the latter emits a crystal-clear sound approved by Mr. Raffy in person (as are each of the final controls of the watches produced by the brand!). When the minute repeater is activated, the automaton also springs into action as the two hammers strike their respective bell, both engraved on the dial, in time with the delightful cadence of the hours, quarters and minutes sounded on the cathedral chime.

The exterior is worthy of the technical accomplishments within. The hand-guilloché dial features applied gold-hour-markers, while the time zones are made from black enamel. The 750 white gold case measures 44 mm in diameter and is a logical 15.55 mm thick. The lugs and the crown are adorned with blue sapphire cabochons. The caseband and the characteristic bow are engraved by hand with the brand’s classic floral motifs. These motifs are naturally engraved all over the movement, which may be admired through the sapphire crystal case-back.

This new Fleurier Complications expresses immense respect for the noblest and most beautiful traditions and represents the ultimate embodiment of exceptional horological accomplishments.