The Ottantasei tourbillon—the latest creation born of the partnership between BOVET and Pininfarina—attests to the two Maisons’ shared alchemy, which enables them to achieve the accuracy that characterizes this exceptional timepiece. To satisfy its collectors, the Maison is offering an exceptional edition of the Ottantasei in platinum, limited to just 10 of 86 total movements manufactured.The story first began in 2008, when Pascal Raffy, owner of BOVET, met with Paolo Pininfarina. Drawing on their common values and shared taste for excellence, together they conceived of a timepiece that would celebrate the 80th anniversary of the famous Turin-based design agency— giving rise to the Ottanta tourbillon in 2010. The mutual understanding between the Italian designers and Swiss watchmakers led the two men to continue along this path, which soon resulted in a full-fledged collection.
Pascal Raffy’s instructions to this teams during the development of the Ottantasei were to showcase its essential mechanics. To this he emphasized the word “light” in two senses, referencing both luminosity and weight.
As is now customary for the collection arising from this partnership, the designers and watchmakers joined forces from the very start of the project. They decided to give the same importance to the three main mechanical groups contained within a watch movement: the energy, time display, and regulating organ, which here is a patented double-sided flying tourbillon. Each of these three groups was positioned in order to achieve balance and symmetry, characteristics which are held in the highest esteem by the project’s protagonists. From the outset, movement and case were considered as a single entity, developed conjointly to yield optimum esthetics, transparency and ergonomics. Throughout the piece’s development, the designers were inspired by its technological features, which led them to give it an original face. Pininfarina’s style inspired the BOVET watchmakers to even greater heights of innovation as they sought to fulfill Mr. Raffy’s directive of lightness in vision and structure.
The BOVET artisans rose to multiple challenges, including the machining and three-dimensional decoration of the mainplate. BOVET’s technicians imagined an ingenious casing system that also significantly reduced the thickness of the timepiece, all without hindering the lateral transparency created by the original sapphire crystals along the case periphery. The technical specifications alone will satisfy the most demanding connoisseurs. A single barrel keeps the double-sided flying tourbillon revolving for more than 10 days. The tourbillon’s architecture and design increase both the piece’s accuracy and transparency, since its attachments are practically invisible. Lastly, a spherical differential halves the time it takes to wind the piece without increasing the torque of the winding mechanism. This plethora of innovations led to the filing of three international patents.
Despite the enthusiasm generated by this collection, a total of only 86 timepieces are to be manufactured, out of which only 10 are manufactured in platinum. Out of respect for the Maison’s collectors, Pascal Raffy took the bold decision to limit the series by the total number of movements. With this same focus on service, each Ottantasei benefits from a five-year international guarantee.
About BOVET 1822:
BOVET is a Swiss Manufacturer of luxury timepieces. Since its foundation in 1822, BOVET has artfully combined the most sophisticated mechanisms with the finest craftsmanship, employing artisanal techniques such as gem-setting, engraving, and miniature painting. Under the visionary guidance of Owner Pascal Raffy, BOVET acquired renowned tourbillons and dials manufactures in 2006 and DIMIER 1738 immediately began producing the Maison’s movements, hair springs, and dials in-house. His passion for Haute Horlogerie also led to the introduction of the remarkable Amadéo convertible case system, which draws inspiration from the exquisite 19th century pocket watches produced by BOVET. Today, the House demonstrates its excellence through varied collections that encompass models as emblematic and remarkable as the Edouard Bovet, Braveheart, OttantaSei, Grand Récital, Astérium, and Shooting Star tourbillons, to name just a few of its icons.
Today, BOVET has been rewarded with more than 25 awards and distinctions, honoring the virtuosity of the Maison’ artisans and their intangible passion to define luxury in its most noble expression. For more information, please visit www.bovet.com.
