Bovet Fleurier

• cal. 21''' silver gilt Chinese duplex escapement movement finely chased and engraved with foliate decoration, polished steel balance with blued inertia-block and regulation screws, ruby endstones • white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer minute track, centre seconds, blued spooned hands • 18k yellow gold case, bezels and pendant set with pearls, back with polychrome enamel painted flowers, band and pendant with cloisonné enamel • movement signed

Movement is in working order while cataloguing, but it has not been tested for the accuracy of time keeping and a service might be required at the buyer's expense. Movement in really good condition, case in really good condition with a few scuffs on the enamel due to use and age, hallmarks clearly visible, original enamel painting without any sign of restoration, champlevé enamel on the band with few restorations at 11, 1 and 5 o clock. Dial in really good condition. Very nice example.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Bovet was established in 1822 by the four Bovet brothers, including Edouard who had settled in Canton, China. The company rose to prominence for its “Chinese watches” that were made in Fleurier, Switzerland. Whilst Edouard Bovet settled in Canton, brothers Alphonse and Frédéric, who had stayed behind in London, and a third brother, Gustave, a watchmaker living in Fleurier, set up a partnership to sell watches to China. The first bill of sale for the Bovet company was drafted in London, on May 1st. Business thrived, and the company transferred its manufacturing activity to Fleurier.
In 1824, Bovet began production of watches in matching pairs. These were highly-prized gifts for the Chinese, who considered twins to be a sign of good fortune. 
In 1830, Maison Bovet, better known as the “Chinese Palace,” was built in Fleurier. In 1905 it became the Town Hall and the seat of the Qualité Fleurier Foundation, of which Bovet is a founder-member.
In 1835, the fourteenth-century Château de Môtiers, which stands above Val-de-Travers and Fleurier, was sold to Henri-Francois Dubois-Bovet which illustrates the fortune and the influence of the Bovet family in the Neuchâtel region. His great-grandchildren gifted the Château to the State of Neuchâtel in 1957. 
In 1857, at the first Exposition Universelle in Paris, Bovet was awarded a gold medal in the Luxury category for a pair of enamelled watches, a commission from the Emperor of China. Bovet continued to sell to China until 1900, when the company began to lose ground to rival production from Besançon in France and from the United States, as well as countless imitations.