Bovet 1822 Virtuoso XI is a Triumph of High Watchmaking, Skeletonization, and Hand-Decoration

The very first full skeleton timepiece Bovet House has ever introduced, and a triumph of high watchmaking, skeletonization, hand-engraving, and hand- decoration – with more than 60 pairs of human hands coming together to transform this timepiece into a true work of art.

From start to finish, more than 60 pairs of human hands come together to craft the Virtuoso XI.

The new Virtuoso XI from BOVET celebrates the rich heritage of Swiss métiers d’art while taking it to new heights. Crafting this timepiece requires the meticulous attention of over 60 pairs of skilled human hands.

Skeletonized timepieces have a special appeal as they showcase the mechanical complexity of a watch. BOVET’s CEO, Pascal Raffy, has long emphasized the importance of making the movement visible, showcasing the high watchmaking pedigree and reinforcing the House’s commitment to decorative arts. The new BOVET 1822 Virtuoso XI is the first full skeleton timepiece from the House, and it is a masterpiece.

The challenge of skeletonizing a movement is to remove enough material to enhance the aesthetics and show the inner workings, while ensuring the movement remains robust enough to function impeccably. The Virtuoso XI movement was specially designed with enough space to engrave both sides of the bridges and plates, and the result is exceptional. It is more transparent than any other BOVET timepiece, and every aspect of this high watchmaking movement is on full display.

The hand-engraving of the Fleurisanne motif takes around 60 hours for the movement and the Writing Slope case. The engravers work free-hand, leaving no room for mistakes. The artisans take pride in the dance of their tools as they transform plain bridges and plates into engraved objet d’art. The Fleurisanne motif is one of BOVET’s signatures, inspired by the leaf pattern on Greek columns, and recalls the House’s roots in Fleurier.

The flying tourbillon movement meets BOVET’s demanding criteria of chronometry, reliability, and expression. It draws its power from a single barrel that ensures over 10 days of power reserve, while maintaining the balance wheel’s oscillations at 18,000 vph. The spherical differential winding system reduces the number of crown turns needed for full winding of the mainspring without increasing friction and forces exerted on the gears. This ingenious mechanism has received two patents.

In summary, the BOVET 1822 Virtuoso XI is a masterpiece of high watchmaking that celebrates the rich heritage of Swiss métiers d’art. It showcases the delicate balance between aesthetics and functionality, and the mastery of human hands in crafting such an exceptional timepiece.