====== Bovet ======
**Bovet** is a historic [[Swiss]] watch manufacturer established in [[Fleurier]] and [[Canton]], [[China]] in [[1822]], failing by [[1950]], and resurrected as an [[independent]] in [[1997]].

===== Bovet (1822-1950) =====
Jean-Frédéric Bovet was a [[Fleurier]] watchmaker in the late 18th century. His son, Edouard Bovet, completed a watchmaking apprenticeship there and moved to London soon after. In [[1818]], Edouard was dispatched to [[Canton]], [[China]] to repair watches there. Bovet started his namesake business in [[1822]] with his father and two brothers, forming a triangle between [[London]], Canton, and Fleurier.

Bovet produced ordinary watches with luxurious finishes, including pearl and enamel artwork, [[case back|display case backs]], and jewels. These became famous in China, taking the name of the company to describe the "Bovets". It was a custom in China to give valuable gifts in pairs, so two identical watches were often produced and sold as a set.

This thriving trade established Bovet and Fleurier as a dominant manufacture, but when he returned to Fleurier in [[1830]], he became part of a separatist movement against the Prussian rulers of the area. He fled to [[Besançon]] the next year and never occupied the mansion built for him in Fleurier, which today serves as a community center.

The company was organized as **Bovet Frères et Cie** in [[1840]] with a value of over CHF 1 million. Bovet flourished as [[Neuchâtel]] became independent, and the Chinese watch trade continued. Edouard Bovet died in [[1848]], and his heirs lost interest in watchmaking. The company was sold to the [[Favre-Leuba|Leuba brothers]] in Paris in [[1901]], briefly returned to the Bovet family in the 1930's, and ceased operations in [[1950]]. Bovet's [[Biel]] movement operations were absorbed by [[Ebauches SA]] in [[1928]], and the Bovet watchmaking facilities and brand went to [[Favre-Leuba]] in [[1948]]. Manufacturing of Bovet-branded watches ceased by [[1950]], but the trademark continued, sold again in [[1966]].

===== Bovet 1822 (1997-present) =====
The Bovet brand was returned to [[Fleurier]] in [[1989]] amid the watchmaking renaissance of that time, being purchased by [[Michel Parmigiani]]. But Parmigiani was unable to devote resources to its re-launch so he passed the brand to [[Roger Guye]] and [[Thierry Oulevay]]. They designed a [[marriage]] watch, with the [[crown]] at 12 00 under a stirrup-shaped bow, and finally re-launched the brand in [[1997]].

Bovet was acquired in [[2001]] by [[Pascal Raffy]], who focused on unique pieces and retained the unusual 12 00 crown layout. Raffy expanded the company, acquiring a minority of [[Aubert Complications]] in [[2004]] and ownership of [[STT]] of [[Tramelan]] in [[2006]]. Founded as [[Progress Watch]] in [[1999]], STT became [[Dimier 1738]] under Raffy. These purchases gave the Bovet brand a strong [[manufacture|in-house manufacturing]] base in Fleurier and beyond. He also purchased the historic chateau home of the Bovet family in [[2007]], returning the Bovet name to the village of [[Môtiers]]. Finally, Raffy sold a minority stake in the company to [[DKSH]], their distributor in Asia, in [[2012]].

Beginning in [[2006]], Bovet has launched a new special edition in its [[Bovet Dimier|Dimier]] collection each year.

In [[2013]], the brand was renamed from **Bovet Fleurier** to **Bovet 1822** under Raffy to commemorate its original founding. The company produces complicated watches under the [[Bovet Fleurier|Fleurier]] collection and sportier models with the [[Bovet Sportster|Sportster]] name. Raffy has committed to producing under 2,000 watches per year and to dedicate 20% of production to unique models.

Bovet 1822 won the "Aiguille d'Or" Grand Prix at the [[Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève]] for the Récital 22 Grand Récital in November, [[2018]].

===== References =====
  * Great Expectations, QP Magazine, Vol. 42


{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Fleurier Môtiers FHH}}