Bovet Virtuoso VIII Virtuoso VIII is the ultimate expression of the artisanal watchmaking tradition that has been upheld by Bovet since 1822.

  • WatchEast
  • August 3, 2017
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In 1822, the Bovet brothers took the decorative watchmaking arts to their highest summits. Since 2001, Pascal Raffy has set out to perpetuate this heritage . The design and decoration of the caliber of the Virtuoso VIII are the ultimate expression of this. Both sides of the plate, for instance, are adorned with bridges whose shapes immediately recall Bovet’s historic pocket watches. The steel is chamfered and polished. The disk plates are sunk and chamfered. The two sides of the plate are also chiseled with an extremely delicate pattern that demanded the utmost skill from the Manufacture’s engravers to achieve a harmonious contrast with the sumptuous surface of the bridges, which are decorated with the emblematic Fleurisanne engraving. The chamfered and polished edges of the bridges artistically frame the Fleurisanne adornments and clearly define the two distinct decorations. The bridge ofthe tourbillon carriage, meanwhile, is in titanium to lighten the latter and eliminate any possible magnetic charge. These two elegant arms, which spread like wings above the flying tourbillon, were also rounded-off and polished in line with artisanal fine watchmaking traditions. 
All of these many operations were carried out by hand by the artisans in the brand decoration workshops.

For their part, the dial-makers have showcased the decoration of the movement by creating two harmoniously arranged dials. The first indicates the power reserve while the second displays the hours, the minutes, and the magnificent big date aperture. In order to conceal only those mechanisms that would otherwise interfere with the timepiece’s legibility, the surface area of the dials has been reduced to a minimum while sumptuous, rounded-off and hand-polished attachments straddle the bridges before anchoring themselves solidly to the movement. Whether the dials feature lavish ivory or black lacquer or precious blue aventurine, the Arabic numerals and their graduations, as well as the shape of their hands, have been directly inspired by the historic pocket watches from the Bovet collections.

SOURCE:http://en.worldtempus.com/article/watches/trends-and-style/bovet-virtuoso-viii-24065.html