Bovet 19Thirty OWO Special Edition
Ten exclusive wrist watches for men created exclusively for the owners of ten of the most luxurious homes in the converted old war offices in London.
Watch brand partnerships may be commonplace, but Bovet’s latest alliance was a surprise. BOVET announces the launch of ten special editions of its classic 19Thirty timepieces adorned with images of London’s historic Old War Office (OWO), a historic building with a majestic Edwardian Baroque façade . The old war office, once a haunt of politicians and spies, was renovated by Raffles into a luxury hotel with private residences. To mark the occasion, OWO Residences commissioned ten 19Thirty gold timepieces from Bovet as gifts to the ten owners of the ten most luxurious residences.
The model chosen for the new owner was 19Thirty, one of Bovet’s “more straightforward” limited-time watches in 18k red gold. The Fleurier case style introduced in 2015, with its crown and bow at noon and the small seconds at 6 o’clock, gives the 19Thirty pocket watch a strong personality. 19Thirty’s design inspiration can be traced back to pocket watches in the 1930s. Nicknamed the “Easel” Chronograph, this pocket top quality watches features a bow and crown for noon and a pull-out stand on the caseback that doubles as a desk clock.
The 19Thirty’s shiny case in 18k red gold measures 42mm in diameter and 9mm in height. Borrowing OWO’s decorative motifs, the red gold case has a hand-engraved “egg and dart” motif on the outside, a noon bow engraved with OWO’s fireplace and marble shell motifs on the moldings. According to the brand, the case’s Hand engraving work takes 20 hours to complete.
As on other 19Thirty models, the time indication is displayed in off-centre hour and minute counters that intersect with a smaller seconds counter with Arabic numerals. The larger counter forms an inverted figure-eight, whose pattern is taken from the rose ceiling above the OWO grand staircase. Rose petals are reproduced in gold paint against a blue background. At 3 and 9 o’clock, two circular recesses add to the view: the recess at 3 o’clock houses the power-reserve indicator, and to emphasize the symmetry, the recess on the left opens onto the barrel.
The sapphire case back reveals the exquisite in-house caliber 15BM04, a hand-wound movement with a long power reserve of up to 7 days from just one barrel. Like pocket replica watches on sale movements, the generous 15 ¾ ligne movement (35.53 mm) takes up all the available space. The symmetry on the dial is echoed by the movement, and its finishing complements Bovet’s high level of craftsmanship, including blued screws, pearl patterns on the main plate and Côtes de Genève stripes arching on the bridges.
TECH SPECS – BOVET THE OWO SPECIAL EDITION 19THIRTY
Case: Diameter 42 mm x Height 9.05 mm – Fleurier style case, 18k red gold crown and noon bow, polished and decorated with hand-engraved motifs from the Old War Office (OWO) – Crown and Lugs with cabochon sapphires – water resistant to 30 meters – sapphire crystal front and back
Dial: Two crossed chronograph subdials, top chronograph showing hours and minutes, dark blue pattern and gold lacquer inspired by OWO’s rose ceiling – small seconds with Arabic numerals below – power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock utensil, – gold pear-shaped hand
Movement: Manufacture Caliber 15BM04, hand-wound – 15 ¾ inches – 7 days power reserve from one barrel – 21,600vph – hours, minutes, small seconds, power reserve indicator
