Watches 7: Apr 18, 2023

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

BOVET – Virtuoso XI Gold Tourbillon Edition

BOVET 1822 – Virtuoso XI White Gold Tourbillon Edition 2023

Engraving Challenge

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It stands to reason that skeletonized timepieces particularly appeal, for they put all the mechanical complexity on full display. In the 22 years since Mr. Pascal Raffy took the helm of BOVET, he has insisted on making sure the movement is visible, its high watchmaking pedigree open to be admired, while at the same time reinforcing the House’s commitment to the decorative arts.

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Given this focus on mechanical artistry, it might seem a bit surprising that the new BOVET 1822 Virtuoso XI is the very first full skeleton timepiece the House has ever introduced. And what a skeleton it is.

Features & Functionality

The delicate dance when skeletonizing a movement is to remove enough material to enhance the aesthetics and completely show the inner workings, while still keeping the movement robust enough to function impeccably. Take away too much material from the bridges, for example, and they could deform and damage the performance of the movement.

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With the Virtuoso XI, the movement was specifically conceived and designed from the start to have enough space to engrave both sides of the bridges and plates, and room to admire them, and the result is exceptional.

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More transparent than any timepiece that BOVET has ever produced, every aspect of this high watchmaking movement is on full display.

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The hand-engraving for the Virtuoso XI takes around 60 hours for the movement and the Writing Slope case. The engraving is done free-hand and leaves no room for mistakes. Surprisingly, the engravers, sitting quietly in the well-lit atelier, don’t seem to feel any pressure, though anyone watching them certainly does. The artisans delight in the dance of their tools as they transform a plain bridge or plate into an engraved objet d’art.

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The decoration is BOVET’s own Fleurisanne motif, one that the House has used for decades. Inspired by the tree leaf pattern on Greek columns from centuries ago, this theme is one of the signatures of BOVET. The name of this motif recalls that the House is still based a stone’s throw from where it was founded – a small village named Fleurier.

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The flying tourbillon movement that drives this exceptional timepiece meets BOVET’s demanding criteria of chronometry, reliability, and expression. It draws its energy from a single barrel that ensures more than 10 days of power reserve (240 hours, when the industry standard is 42-48 hours), all while maintaining the balance wheel’s oscillations at 18,000 vph.

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Finally, the long power reserve, provided by a single barrel, would require meticulous winding if not for the spherical differential winding system. The application of this ingenious mechanism, and the multi-gear three-dimensional teeth of one of its pinions, has received two patents.

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Because of this system, the number of crown turns needed for full winding of the mainspring is halved without increasing friction and forces exerted on the gears.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: Virtuoso XI Gold Tourbillon Edition

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Movement
Bovet re-engineered Virtuoso VIII manufacture movement
Hand-wound skeletonised and hand-engraved
Patented double-sided flying tourbillon
10-days of power reserve
Every plate, bridge and other surface fully hand-engraved on both sides
Patented spherical rewinding system
Number of components: 283
Number of Jewels: 36 jewels
Diameter: 17 lignes
Frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)
Tourbillon | COSC certified
Power-reserve: 10 days
Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, big date, power-reserve indicator
Case
Diameter: 44 mm | 18K White Gold Writing Slope case
Thickness: 13.45 mm
Sapphire crystal front and back
Optional set with diamond bezel
High-polished or fully engraved
Crown with cabuchon at 12 o'clock
Water-resistance: 3 ATM / 3 bar / 30 meters / 100 feet
Dial
Openworked and hand-engraved dial
Strap
Black alligator leather strap with white gold folding clasp set with diamonds

PRICE

GUARANTEE 5 years

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Press release - 2023
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