Bovet’s Miss Audrey “Bris de Verre” and the Virtuoso XI are two of its latest offerings to celebrate and commemorate everything for which Valentine’s Day stands.
Press release with commentary in italics.
Bovet’s Miss Audrey “Bris de Verre” and the Virtuoso XI
Commentary
Miss Audrey “Bris de Verre”
The Miss Audrey “Bris de Verre” by Bovet features a 36mm stainless steel case set with 103 brilliant-cut diamonds and a unique hand-engraved “Bris de Verre” dial, reminiscent of shattered glass. The dial includes four pear-shaped sapphires, and the watch is designed to capture the essence of new love with its sparkling appearance.
Virtuoso XI
The Virtuoso XI is Bovet’s first fully skeletonized timepiece, showcasing a flying tourbillon and a ten-day power reserve. The 18K white gold “Writing Slope” case can be engraved or high-polished, and the movement is visible through the openwork design, which includes meticulous hand-engraving on both sides. This watch highlights Bovet’s commitment to craftsmanship and mechanical artistry.
These two timepieces exemplify Bovet’s commitment to horological excellence and artistic expression. The Miss Audrey “Bris de Verre” captures the essence of new love with its sparkling dial, while the Virtuoso XI showcases the brand’s technical prowess and dedication to intricate craftsmanship.
You can find more details on the Bovet website.
Press Release
There are moments when life calls for a touch of brilliance — a constant reminder of the love, emotions, and joy of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day offers an opportunity for couples to celebrate their love and commitment, express their emotions openly and authentically, and deepen their emotional connections through thoughtful gifts, loving gestures, and heartfelt conversations. For this special day, BOVET has two offerings that are just perfect to celebrate and commemorate everything for which Valentine’s Day stands.
New Miss Audrey “Bris de Verre”
The first is the new Miss Audrey, a captivating masterpiece from BOVET. Its extraordinary “Bris de Verre” (shattered glass) dial is like an untouched field of freshly fallen snow, sparkling under the sun. The delicate brilliance, reminiscent of twinkling diamonds scattered across its surface, is further elevated by four pear-shaped sapphires as indices — vivid drops of color that bring a playful and joyful energy to the purity of its white tones. More than a timepiece, the Miss Audrey is a true jewel in more than one way, designed to bring light and elegance to every moment.
Creating the “Bris de Verre” dial is a labor of love, requiring between 15 and 20 hours of concentrated effort from BOVET’s master engravers. It begins with the careful etching of guiding lines — delineating the outer rim of the dial, the central hole, and the four pear-shaped holes for the sapphire indexes.
The true magic, however, lies in the next step: using a tool called an “onglette”, a steel chisel with a pointed tip, the engraver creates the tiny triangles by hand, using thousands of engraving movements. Each triangle must be uniform in size, depth, and angle to create the harmonious reflections that give the dial its brilliance. There is no precise template, no guide — only the engraver’s instinct and mastery lead the process.
The Miss Audrey is a radiant jewel, encased in a 36mm stainless steel case set with 103 brilliant-cut diamonds that create the perfect frame for its breathtaking “Bris de Verre” dial. This shimmering masterpiece, resembling an artwork of sparkling facets, takes center stage, captivating with its elegance. Winner of the Ladies’ Watch category at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2020, the Miss Audrey has already charmed collectors around the globe, blending artistry and sophistication into a timeless creation.
More than a timepiece, the Miss Audrey transforms effortlessly thanks to BOVET’s ingenious Amadeo convertible system. In seconds, the Miss Audrey can be converted in seconds into a pendant necklace, a wristwatch, and a table clock, all without any tools, offering versatility for every occasion.
The Virtuoso XI
The second timepiece for Valentine’s Day is a special version of the Virtuoso XI, BOVET’s first and only fully skeletonized timepiece. Special “Pierre du Château” (“Stones of the Castle” in English) or “Fleurisanne” engraving adorns the bow, while brilliant white diamonds are set into the 18K white gold bezel.
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. More transparent than any other timepiece that BOVET has ever produced, every aspect of this high watchmaking movement is on full display.
This allows you to dive into the movement, letting your eyes wander throughout its construction, admiring the transparency, the attention to detail, the high finishing, as well as the overall ethereal effect.
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.
Finally, the long power reserve 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. 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.
The Virtuoso XI is a triumph of high watchmaking, skeletonization, hand-engraving, and hand-decoration. All told, more than 60 pairs of human hands have come together to transform this timepiece into a true work of art.
With these new versions of already renowned timepieces, Mr. Raffy and his artisans have honored love on Valentine’s Day, aiming to delight collectors attentive to technical skill and appreciative of the noblest expression of the decorative arts.
