Bovet Chronograph

Jean-Frédéric Bovet, was the first watchmaker in the family as the profession exploded throughout the Fleurier region. By 1794, about 13% of the Fleurier population were employed as watchmakers.

The story of Bovet as a brand begins around 1814, when three of Jean-Frédéric sons moved to London after completing their watchmaking apprenticeships. The young Edouard Bovet became employed by a company called Magniac & Co., run by Charles and Hollingworth Magniac. Although the East India Company still held a monopoly over trade with India and the Far East, some shrewd businessmen had discovered a loophole. Taking out Prussian citizenship, the Magniac brothers became Chinese consuls of the King of Prussia, giving them diplomatic residents rights to trade with China without a license. At the time of the Qing Dynasty, the port of Canton (modern-day Guangzhou) was used to control trade with the West, and so that is where Edouard Bovet was sent to repair watches in 1818.

Having a Swiss watchmaker stationed in Canton to work on imported Swiss watches was an incredibly successful business model, and in 1822 the Bovet brothers founded a general partnership with Edouard in China, Alphonse and Frédéric in England, and the youngest Henri back in Fleurier. Jean-Frédéric had passed away in 1818, but the watchmaking business was operating at peak quality.

Brand: Bovet
Case: 34mm
Lug to lug: 40mm
Material: Chrome plated
Strap: Leather
Box/Papers: No

CONDITION & SERVICING
-The dial has aged and faded to a really nice copper color. 
-Markers and hands have matching patina.
-Case is unploished and in excellent condition for its age, overall a really nice example.
-Recently serviced by our watchmaker.