Introduced in 2020, the Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two tourbillon by BOVET 1822 is an incredible expression of artisanal watchmaking, decorative arts, mechanical ingenuity, and innovation.
This year, the House of BOVET is presenting its contemporary interpretation with titanium cases in brilliant black Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) and Super-LumiNova dials.
Placed side-by-side with the original, the newest Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two is a completely new timepiece, modern and sporty, while still maintaining its high watchmaking excellence. This is a theme moving forward for the House of BOVET – using interesting materials, colors, treatments, and displays that modernize these intricate timepieces, while still emphasizing the artisanal nature of the Maison’s in-house production.
Speaking of in-house production, BOVET 1822’s processes greatly benefited from the incredible three-year collaboration with Rolls-Royce that resulted in the stunning pair of bespoke timepieces and the mounting system in the dashboard of the Boat Tail.
Like participation in Formula 1 provides a trickle-down of technology into an automaker’s passenger cars, the intense research, development, and testing (including crash testing) of the Boat Tail timepieces resulted in engineering and production gains that have impacted every aspect of BOVET’s manufacture. Every single collection has benefitted from this exchange of engineering and technology, including the brand Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two.
The Super-LumiNova coated dials, not just indices or markings but the entire dial surface, are available in Yellow, Blue, Salmon, Turquoise, Green, and Violet. Once charged, these dials really pop, showcasing the luminosity in a unique way.
Over the past few years, the House of BOVET has been integrating Super-LumiNova into its timepieces in unique ways – in the lunar surface of the moon phase, on the sunshine dials of various collections – but this is the first time that Super-LumiNova has been applied so strongly onto the dials, a true statement of modernity.
The Grade 5 titanium cases of these new Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two timepieces have been treated with brilliant black DLC that contrasts beautifully with the bright and vibrant dial colors.
The new Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two includes the patented flying tourbillon with ten days of power reserve, the patented accelerated rewinding system, the writing slope case and sapphire crystal aperture, the fine movement decoration, the big date display, and the two dials forming a horizontal number eight, which symbolizes luck, perfection, and infinity.
For exceptional legibility, the seconds’ display is carefully designed to be displayed by a Super-LumiNova-coated sub-dial. The arrow of the index hangs over the surface of the delicate circular dial showing the 60 seconds. The easy, precise readability offered by this display, even in the dark, is remarkable.
It is hard to imagine that a Super-LumiNova dial with such a diameter, hanging over the date disks, could allow for such a large date display. The space between the units’ disk and the hours’ disk is reduced to optimize readability, making it as large as possible for enhanced legibility.
The date correction can easily is performed simply by pressing down on the real sapphire cabochon crown. The rapid date corrector and iconic 12-o’clock positioning of the crown effectively avoids any accidental date correction.
The movement that drives this exceptional timepiece draws its energy from a single barrel that ensures more than ten days of power reserve, all while maintaining the balance wheel’s oscillations at 18,000 vph.
Finally, the power reserve of over ten days, provided by a single barrel, 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, have received two patents. Because of this differential winding system, the number of crown turns needed for full winding of the spring is halved without increasing friction and forces exerted on the gears.
The Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two limited edition (8 timepieces) is a modern interpretation of BOVET’s proprietary and patented flying tourbillon with a big date and lengthy power reserve. The Super-LumiNova-coated dials and black DLC titanium cases are a true 21st-century departure for BOVET.
Technical details
Model: BOVET 1822 Virtuoso VIII Chapter Two DLC-SLN
References
T10GD041, Titanium DLC, green Super-LumiNova dials
T10GD042, Titanium DLC, blue Super-LumiNova dials
T10GD045, Titanium DLC, yellow Super-LumiNova dials
T10GD046, Titanium DLC, purple Super-LumiNova dials
T10GD051, Titanium DLC, salmon Super-LumiNova dials
Edition
Limited Edition to 8 timepieces
Case
Type: Fleurier Diameter 44 mm
Material: Titanium DLC
Water resistance: 30 m
Movement
Caliber 17BM06-GD
Type: Hand-wound movement decorated with blackened Côtes de Genève
Diameter: 17’’’
Frequency: 18’000 v/h Power reserve 10 days, single barrel
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds on flying tourbillon, big date, power reserve indicator
Dials
Colored Super-LumiNova dials ; green, blue, yellow, purple, salmon Components 394 – including 356 components for the movement PATENTS Spherical winding Toothing with multiple gearing Double face tourbillon
Strap
Full-skin alligator
Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle with diamond-like carbon coating
Price
US $ 230,000/-
