Among high-end watch collectors, few terms have as much impact as "unique piece." For automotive enthusiasts, "Rolls-Royce" carries similar weight. The latest release from the boutique high horology brand Bovet combines both of these evocative attributes, creating a bespoke pair of "yours" and "others" watches for a wealthy collector to match his recently unveiled one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce Boat Tail convertible. The unique Bovet Boat Tail watches, crafted over four years and designed for wrist, table, and dashboard use in the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, are a luxurious and theatrical display of custom watchmaking collaboration.
Both pieces of the custom Bovet Boat Tail pair feature identical 44-millimeter cases made of 18-carat white gold. At first glance, the case seems deceptively simple: a cylindrical shape with asymmetrical T-bar style lugs and a cabochon-set crown at the "12 o'clock" position. This gives the impression of an adapted pocket watch case, which is almost, but not entirely, accurate. This is not a completely new offering for Bovet, as the Amadeo Convertible Case concept has been periodically used across all models of the brand since 2010, but it is undoubtedly its most complex execution to date.
With quick-release spring bars and a hunter-style hinged caseback, the Amadeo case can transform into standard wristwatches, table clocks with support, pendant watches, and dashboard clocks for the owner-commissioned Rolls-Royce Boat Tail.
While on paper this may seem simple, the latter function is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the entire design. Craftsmen from both companies created a robust, entirely mechanical cradle from 51 parts made of aluminum and titanium for the car's dashboard clock. This stand is designed to isolate the delicate tourbillon mechanisms from engine vibrations, dampen any discernible noises from the mechanics, and even protect the watch from impact in the event of a high-speed collision.
Bovet distinguishes this "yours and others" pair through case finishing. The men's model features a clean mirror polish, while the women's model has a complex hand-engraved filigree pattern covered with blue lacquer.
The Bovet Boat Tail watches are designed with reversible dials for both the front and back of the mechanism. Both models have identical skeletonized main dial designs, heavily employing motifs from the duo of Rolls-Royce convertibles. The main dial surface is a marquetry of Obsidian Ayous ebony wood, set in a white gold frame, from the same wood and shape that defines the distinctive rear deck of the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail.
Dominating the lower part of the skeletonized dial is a massive white gold tourbillon bridge with a hand-engraved central element echoing the iconic Rolls-Royce hood ornament "Spirit of Ecstasy." In contrast, at the "12 o'clock" position is a small, neatly executed power reserve indicator. Bold, unabashedly luxurious, and personalized with the owners' names, this dial reflects the imperative and grandiose spirit of Rolls-Royce, which, like the automaker itself, may not appeal to everyone.
On the reverse side, these two watches diverge slightly. Both models feature small sub-dials for time measurement at the "12 o'clock" position, flanked by a hand-engraved, lacquered, and painted miniature sculpture of the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail in profile.
Most of the remaining visual space is occupied by a clean and elegant three-quarter plate with Côtes de Genève patterning and blued screws. A simpler, tapering tourbillon bridge completes the set at the "6 o'clock" position. The men's model contributes to this layout by using an aventurine dial surface hand-painted with the owner's personal celestial map, while the women's version uses an elaborate floral pattern hand-painted on a mother-of-pearl dial base instead.
In addition to elaborate hand-finishing and decoration, the custom in-house tourbillon movements in both Bovet Boat Tail models incorporate several unique engineering solutions to combat the stresses of dashboard clock use.
Simply reinforcing each component to better withstand vibrations and stresses was impossible, as Rolls-Royce mandated a maximum weight for the clock unit. Instead, the tourbillon uses pivots instead of the more common ball bearings to reduce vibration transmission, and the beat frequency was increased to 21,600 beats per second to enhance timekeeping accuracy despite mechanical stresses.
One of the few components with substantial added mass is the balance wheel, which in turn better isolates the balance from minor vibrations. Bovet states that the power reserve for this movement is 120 hours. Although the Bovet Boat Tail watches are designed for various applications - from dashboard clocks to pendant watches - for wristwear, the brand offers midnight blue alligator leather straps for the men's model and deep blood-red straps for the women's version.
Complex, intricate, and strictly one-of-a-kind, the Bovet Boat Tail watches represent a potentially divisive but undeniably impressive canvas of craftsmanship from two of the most luxurious brands in the watch and automotive industries. As the Bovet Boat Tail watches were developed as a unique commission series with no intention of selling them to the general public, MSRP information for these watches is unavailable. For more detailed information, visit the brand's website.
