Private Collection
These pocket watches witnessed centuries of history and were manufactured some 200 years ago. These artistic timepieces once brought together the Bovet family and the Great Qing Empire. Since then, collectors around the world have been interested in these historical pocket watches.
Flower Bouquet on Purple Background
Flower Bouquet on a Dove Grey Background
The Butterfly
La Madonna della Sedia
Bovet Fleurier made for the Chinese market
Two body 18k gold case. Back cover with a very fine painted Virgin and Child, after the 1514 painting “La Madonna della Sedia” by Raphael, with translucent bleu enamel over sunburst engine-turning. Bezel decorated with a repeated pattern of white enamel flowers with red enamel centers. Pendant and bow decorated with matching enamel. Dial in white enamel with Roman numerals. Blued steel hands. Gilded movement fully engraved in the manner of G. Vuillemin. Typical Bovet Chinese calibre. 6 wheel train for 8-day duration. Ruby duplex escapement. Blued steel balance spring.
Polychrome Flowers
18K gold bassine case. The case back is in champlevé and depicts a floral motif on a black enamel background. The shapes of flowers and leaves have been carved out and some have been filled with enamel while others have been left gold and unpainted to create a striking contrast effect. The pendant, bow and edge of the case are decorated with enamel.
Wound with a key. The main and top plates are made of mirror-polished steel and, because of the hardness of these parts, this type of movement is difficult to make. The wheel bridge is engraved with “BOVET FLEURIER” and the watch uses a duplex escapement.
Colonial hunting scene
The Nightingale
Romeo and Juliet
18k gold case. The case back is in painted enamel and depicts two lovers. This painting depicts Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The pendant, bow and edge of the case are inlaid with pearls. Wound with a key. This is an early period Chinese watch movement. The main and top plates are made of copper and engraved with a decorative pattern. These parts are all gilded in a process that uses mercury to ensure that the gold coating lasts as long as possible. This watch uses a duplex escapement.
Flower Bouquet on Purple Background
Lemanic Landscape
Pair of Polychrome Flowers
Mandarin Duck
Mille Fleurs
Very fine and unusual 18k gold and enamel watch, set with split pearls. Cover decorated with polychrome champleve enamel floral and foliate patterns.
Movement with Chinese duplex escapement.
Signed and numbered on the edge of the cuvette.
A Pair of Doves in a Nest of Flowers
Fine and rare 18k gold case. Two-body, “Empire”, spring-loaded back cover, very finely painted on enamel with a pair of doves in a nest of roses, tulips, forget-me-nots, pansies and marigolds against a pail green enamel ground. The bezels, pendant and bow are set with split pearls. Dial in white enamel with Roman chapters. Blued steel spade shaped hands. Chinese calibre, 11 jewels, free standing barrel ruby duplex escapement, all wheels jewelled. Signed on the movement, back cover stamped inside with Geneva mark and “B” between two dots at the top and bottom.
Flower Bouquet
Chinese Zodiac 24H
Madonna and Child
Flower Bouquet on blue background for the Turkish Market
Romance
Portrait of a Young Lady
Dancing Lady
Pair of Beautiful Ladies
Chinese Lady
Flower Bouquet on Blue Background
Serpent Attack
Polychrome Flowers
Silver Pocket Watch
Silver hunting case. Stamped with the Chinese characters for Bovet “播喴.”
Wound with a key. The main and top plates are made of copper and engraved with a decorative design. These parts are all gilded in a process that uses mercury to ensure that the gold coating lasts as long as possible. The bottom plate carries the two Chinese characters for Bovet “播喴” and the watch uses an anchor escapement.
Silver watch with ? reversed ? dial
Chronograph in Silver Case
Silver case. Chronograph watch with the stop and start button are at three o’clock and the reset and back button are at nine o’clock.
Wound using the crown. “BOVET” is engraved on the barrel bridge and the movement is decorated with C?tes de Genève. The watch uses a Swiss anchor escapement and has flyback function.
Minute repeater in Yellow Gold
18K gold hunting case. Stamped with Chinese characters for Bovet “播喴.”
Wound using the crown. The watch has a three-quarter bridge, which bears the two characters for Bovet “播喴,” and it uses a Swiss anchor escapement. It also has minute repeater function.
