Bovet Watches

Bovet Watches

Bovet doesn’t make watches. It makes mechanical objets d’art.

This is haute horology in full flourish — hand-engraved movements, Amadeo convertible cases, and dials that look like they belong in a glass case

at the Patek Museum. If you’re chasing flex, Bovet might not be for you. But if you’re chasing craftsmanship, heritage, and jaw-dropping execution

welcome to the good stuff.

A Little History

Founded in 1822 by Édouard Bovet, the brand made its name by exporting exquisitely decorated pocket watches to the Chinese Imperial Court.

These early timepieces featured mirror-image dials, lavish enamel work, and movements that were as beautiful as the cases themselves.

Fast forward to the modern era: Bovet was resurrected in the late 1990s by collector and businessman Pascal Raffy, who returned the brand to

its roots by combining traditional handcraft with technical innovation, all done in-house at its Dimier 1738 manufacture in Switzerland.

Today, Bovet is still independent — and it shows. Every piece is built with obsessive vertical integration, down to their own hairsprings

balance wheels, and cases.

What Collectors Love

Bovet is unapologetically ornate — and that’s what makes it stand out in a sea of minimalist design and safe case shapes.

Signature features include:

  • Amadeo Convertible Case System — allows the watch to transform between wristwatch, pocket watch, and desk clock without tools

  • Exhibition casebacks (often on both sides) with hand-engraved bridges and perlage

  • Enamel, guilloché, or miniature painting dials — often crafted by Bovet’s in-house artisans

  • Haute complications — including tourbillons, perpetual calendars, jumping hours, and dual-time systems

  • Fully in-house calibers — many hand-wound, long power reserve (7–10 days), and beautifully finished

Popular models include:

  • Virtuoso VIII / IX — flying tourbillons with power reserve indicators, symmetrical architecture, and Amadeo convertibility

  • Récital Series — including astronomical displays (Récital 22), moonphases, triple time zones, and layered "writing desk" cases

  • Fleurier Complications — often ultra-decorated, with miniature painting, stone dials, or engraved gold bridges

  • 19Thirty — Bovet’s most “accessible” model, inspired by vintage pocket watch design, often under $25K

Why Bovet Deserves a Spot

Because no other brand blends fine arts and horology this seamlessly.

Bovet isn’t building tool watches. It’s building heirlooms — watches that feel like they belong in a royal collection, but that are still wearable on

the wrist (or convertible into a desk clock).

If you’re a collector who values artistry, uniqueness, and handmade everything, Bovet is one of the few remaining names doing it at

the highest level — with true independence and full creative control.

What’s Out There Now

Bovet offers both fully bespoke pieces and limited production runs:

  • Haute Complication Tourbillons — often with Amadeo cases and engraved movements

  • Récital models — usually more sculptural, with tilted dials or multi-level displays

  • 19Thirty Collection — cushion or round cases, manual-wind, and excellent hand-finishing at a lower price tier

  • Women’s collections — equally elaborate, often with mother-of-pearl, diamonds, and custom painting

Expect prices from $18K (for 19Thirty) to $500K+ (for multi-complication Récital models) — and everything in between.

Pre-owned? A connoisseur’s game — values fluctuate due to the artistic nature of each piece, but clean Amadeo tourbillons and limited Récitals

can command strong resale when matched to the right collector.

Fed’s Take

Bovet is watchmaking as high art.

I’ve handled a few over the years — including a Récital with an astronomical dial that basically turned timekeeping into a planetarium. And the finishing?

Unreal. Every bridge, hand, and wheel is done with care. You feel it.

This isn’t a brand for people counting specs. It’s for collectors who appreciate mechanical beauty, rare craft, and timeless elegance. If you’re ready

to go deep into independent haute horology, Bovet’s a crown jewel.

Check Out Our Bovet Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Bovet watches — especially Virtuoso, Récital, and 19Thirty models, as well as bespoke enamel

or tourbillon pieces.

If you have a Bovet watch you’re ready to sell or trade – reach out. We’re always buying.

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