Bovet’s latest Miss Audrey Sweet Art Timepiece is a Sugar-Coated Confection
The master of artisanal decorative techniques invents an entirely new process for its dials.
By James Malcolmson, photo courtesy of BOVET 1822
Truly creative watchmakers can draw inspiration from just about anything. For Pascal Raffy, owner of the Bovet brand for the last 20 years, the idea for the latest material to be used in watchmaking may very well have come from his morning espresso. There in a simple pile of sugar crystals, he noticed a texture and a play of light unique from the many more exotic minerals now used in the métiers d’art applied to watch dials.
But as anyone who has poured sugar into their coffee knows, its ephemeral structure is hardly the stuff of a timepiece built to last generations. Fortunately, Bovet has one of the most extensive networks of artisans in the Swiss watch industry. Their enamellists and miniature painters—who normally apply their skills to lustrous and microscopically detailed images—were able to devise a process to stabilize the sugar crystals and add subtle coloration. Each crystal is sized and individually applied to the dial. While technically demanding, the patented process is performed at a scale that is natural to miniature artists, and the results are spectacular, with gradations of color and sparkle that have never been achieved with other materials.
The special hands of the dial of the Sweet Art are a whimsical, romantic touch. Uniquely shaped, they form a beautiful heart once every hour, as the minute hand catches up to the hour hand, reminding the wearers of the loved ones in their lives.
Winner of the Ladies' Watch category of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève 2020 (the watchmaking Oscars), the Miss Audrey model has captured the hearts of collectors all over the world.
The signature 36mm Fleurier Amadéo® convertible case is available in stainless steel hand-set with sparkling white diamonds. The unique and patented Amadéo® case offers the owner the ultimate in versatility: The system allows the watch to be transformed from a wristwatch to a table clock or pendant all without the use of any tool.
Powering the Miss Audrey Sweet Art is an automatic movement beating at 4Hz for exemplary chronometry.
At BOVET 1822, the measurement of time is a form of poetry, and the Miss Audrey Sweet Art represents a romantic look at fine watchmaking. Sugar is sweet, and so is the BOVET 1822 Miss Audrey Sweet Art.
If you would like to view a particular version of the Miss Audrey Sweet Art, please contact us, and we’ll let you know what is available at short notice, and how quickly we can obtain colors that may not be in the US already.
Miss Audrey Sweet Art AS36024-SD12 Specifications
Strap: Full-grain alligator
Necklace: Pearl or rhodium-plated silver
Diameter: 36mm
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Caliber: 11BA15
Movement Type: Self-winding
Frequency: 28,800 v/h
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Warranty: 5 Years
We also carry a wide range of other BOVET timepieces and wristwatches from other leading independent manufactures and heritage Maisons. Shop our full wristwatch selection online or visit our SF Bay Area timepiece salon to discover more rare timepiece offerings in Menlo Park, CA at our Rosewood Sand Hill boutique.