The Monsieur Bovet Quetzal showcases the maison’s métiers d’art pedigree
We can’t say we were surprised when we first heard that Bovet was collaborating with Monaco-based gallery Art in Time on yet another exclusive timepiece. After all, Bovet’s penchant for creating highly artistic timepieces aligns almost a little too perfectly with the gallery’s mission to showcase independent watchmaking at its most expressive.
And having already crafted one-of-a-kind pieces for the gallery in the past, including the Amadeo Fleurier Métiers d’Art Pièce Unique from 2022 and the Bovet 19Thirty with a red guilloché dial, it was only a matter of time before the 202-year-old maison added to the collection.
The Monsieur Bovet Quetzal, the latest one-of-one timepiece to come out from the collaboration, showcases the maison’s pedigree in crafting métiers d’art watches that ooze sophistication. Featuring a hand-painted miniature of a quetzal, a bird revered in Mesoamerican culture, the dial required 71 hours of meticulous craftsmanship by a master artisan to achieve the resulting depth and finish.
The quetzal’s plumage, set against a textured gradient-green, gives off an eye-catching iridescent sheen when hit by light, adding a touch of depth and visual intrigue to the dial. Impressively, the fine textures of each of the quetzal’s feathers appear to have been meticulously rendered, providing a more lifelike effect.
Seeing as it’s a one-of-a-kind timepiece, Bovet—of course—doesn’t stop there. Flip the watch over and you’ll find a green guilloché subdial within a stunning openworked movement that’s decorated in a myriad of finishes. Sporting an almost serpentine-like guilloché pattern that radiates from its centre, the subdial is further adorned with four baguette-cut emerald indices, positioned at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock.
Housed in a 43.1mm, 18k white-gold case that’s hand-engraved with fleurisanne motifs, the timepiece incorporates Bovet’s Amadéo convertible system, allowing it to be worn as a wristwatch or a pocket watch. Powered by the brand’s in-house 13BM09AI calibre with an impressive 7-day power reserve, the timepiece is further decorated with ruby cabochons set into its crown.
