Swiss gold, enamel and pearl set watch by Bovet Circa 1850

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Kenmerk: FA0231
Diameter: 57 mm

Estimate: € 25.000 - 50.000
Price sold: € 17.950

Gold, enamel and pearl-set watch made for the Chinese market
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A very fine Swiss 18k gold, enamel and pearl-set watch made for the Chinese market “Rose Bouquet”, circa 1850. Mirror-polished steel, “Chinese” caliber with steel wheels and standing barrel, 8 jewels, duplex escapement, bimetallic compensation balance with blued steel winged weights, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator.
Case with pale blue, red and white enameled band, back finely painted on enamel with a bouquet of flowers including pink roses, pearl-set bezels, enameled pearl-set pendant,and bow. gold cuvette hinged to the movement ring.
White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute/seconds divisions with fifteen-minute/seconds Arabic numerals. Blued steel ovoid hands.
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Diameter: 57.5 mm

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Signed: Bovet Fleurier
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One of the most successful Swiss horological dynasties, Bovet was established by four brothers from Fleurier. Three of the brothers, Edouard, Frédéric, and Alphonse, had first set up a business in London in 1815, making watches for the domestic market. In 1818, Edouard was hired by the maison Magniac to be a watchmaker for them in Canton. In 1822, having realised the great possibilities of the Chinese market, the Bovets established their own company in China, Edouard remaining in Canton, Frédéric (born 1786) and Alphonse (1788-1850) working out of London, and Gustave (1790-1849) out of their home town, Fleurier. Affairs prospered, the name ‘Bovet’ becoming almost synonymous with the word ‘watch’ for the Chinese.

Signed: Bovet Fleurier