Manufacturer: Bovet Year: Circa 2000s Reference No: C801 Case No: 003’838 Model Name: Sportster Zodiac Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal. 3288, 28 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Bovet deployant clasp Dimensions: 40mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
Catalogue Essay
Bovet's relationship with China goes back to the 19th century, when the company specialized in exquisite, usually enameled pieces for the Far Eastern market. The present Bovet Sportster Zodiac celebrates the ties of the watchmaking brand with the Chinese thanks to its special typographic homage to its culture. Not only does it features Chinese characters for indexes, but furthermore these characters represents the 12 Chinese hours and zodiac signs. This configuration - far from being a simple aesthetic experiment - has its roots in ancient Chinese astrology culture: Feng Shui and Bazi. According to this discipline, the day can be divided in 12 2-hour periods, and each period is associated with a Zodiac sign (for example, 7 AM - 9 AM is the time of the Dragon); for each person, the period of the day associated with their sign is considered auspicious. Cased in stainless steel with chronograph pushers positioned like a stop watch, the timepiece is charmed with unique personality. Fitted with a white dial with baby blue registers, the red wavy chronograph hand stands out with a touch of playfulness. Presented in excellent overall condition, the Bovet Sportster Zodiac is perfect for the collector who enjoys Chinese Astrology and creative expression of time telling.
The firm Bovet 1822 has a rich, centuries-long history beginning when Edouard Bovet sold four decorative pocket watches in Canton Asia for what would today equal $1 million. By 1822, Edouard, with his brothers, registered the company in London, which at the time was an important center for watches and clocks. That same year, they moved their manufacturing center to the Swiss municipality Fleurier. Bovet became known for their highly decorative pocket watches for the Chinese market. Their richly engraved movements were so important to the watch that Bovet created the concept of the transparent watch back so owners could see the beauty of the movement. Bovet's oversized chronograph wristwatches, such as the Mono Rattrapante chronograph, are especially sought-after. Today, the firm continues their tradition of exquisitely enameled watches.