The event was attended by Ms. Audrey Raffy – Vice President of Bovet 1822 and also the daughter of Mr. Pascal Raffy, the brand owner. Travellive Media Group had the opportunity to chat and share with her interesting stories about Bovet's "unique art" as well as the brand's future direction in the near future.
Ms. Audrey Raffy - daughter of the owner of the BOVET 1822 brand - Mr. Pascal Raffy
Hello Audrey Raffy, nice to meet you again. I still remember our first meeting was in the early winter days of Hanoi a year ago, when Bovet introduced the Miss Audrey Sweet Art watch model with a dial made from sugar crystals created by master craftsman Andre Martinez with inspiration from you. Thank you for giving Travellive this interview on the occasion of this meeting, do you still have an impression of us?
Wow, it’s been a year already. I’ve always loved Hanoi and didn’t think it would be so long before I came back. I remember, last time the representatives of Travellive - a prestigious high-end magazine in the field of Travel and Lifestyle in Vietnam - directly participated in the sugar crystal workshop with artist Andre when we launched the Miss Audrey Sweet Art watch model for ladies who love sweetness. We had a great time, right?
It's nice that we have left good impressions of each other. And Audrey, surely you have a special reason for coming back to Hanoi?
I don’t want to think that I need a special reason to come to Hanoi. I had a great time when I came to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City a year ago when we had the workshop here.
This time, on the occasion of Bovet opening its first flagship boutique in Hanoi, I attended and also spent time with the press, connoisseurs and Bovet brand lovers in particular.
This is really good news for Bovet brand lovers in Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general, we can directly come to admire and own Bovet watch models. For this special occasion, what special creations does Bovet want to give to brand fans in Vietnam?
Bovet's works are very rare in quantity and we really focus on the mechanical movement, artistry and sculptural technique so our works have certainly reached the Vietnamese connoisseurs.
At this event, the BOVET brand focused on four main techniques that have been the foundation for its creations, including: Engraving / Miniature painting / Materials / Super Luminova (using luminescent materials). Not only that, connoisseurs also admired works that combine contemporary design and sophisticated craftsmanship that resonated in the watch world.
Lady Bovet - a unique version in the world with a realistic miniature painting with a pair of doves, evoking the femininity of the owner. In addition, the owner can choose a dial made of pink mother-of-pearl combined with a unique guilloche pattern.
The craft of enameling miniatures on watch dials is more than 200 years old and requires meticulousness, patience and creativity. However, the BOVET team of artisans always conquers no matter what material surface. Idyllic folk scenes, portraits and the beauty of animals are the inspiration for the artisans at BOVET.
For BOVET, the dial is the perfect place for aesthetics and craftsmanship to shine. The BOVET Récital 21 Perpetual Calendar features a blue lacquered disc at the center of the dial to display the hours and minutes. The hours are indicated by gold-colored Roman numerals, as are the hour and minute hands. The contrast in color between the hour and minute indices and the disc creates an attractive, sophisticated look for the Récital 21 Retrograde Perpetual Calendar. In addition, the “Fleurisanne” motif - a motif introduced in the 19th century - is also reproduced on the dial, demonstrating the meticulousness, flexibility and talent of the artisan's hand.
Not only making a name for itself with its long-standing techniques, BOVET also surprises connoisseurs with its mastery of unique materials in the manufacturing process. Never limited to a specific material, Pascal and the BOVET artisan team always seek, explore and conquer different materials to create unique creations.
In 2020, BOVET made a splash among watch enthusiasts when it launched the Miss Audrey Sweet Art (right) - a sweet combination of the sophistication of the crafting technique and the pioneering use of sugar crystals, which had never been produced before in the watch industry. The sugar crystals were selected with the right structure and the right size. Next, a special layer of lacquer was applied to the dial by the artisans. The process required absolute concentration and precision because even the slightest scratch would require the entire process to be done again.
In addition, it would be remiss not to mention one of BOVET’s most iconic creations, the Amadeo convertible case, which Pascal Raffy and his team spent nearly seven years developing and implementing. This exceptionally ingenious mechanism results in a reversible wristwatch that can be transformed into a table clock or a pocket watch.
With the Amadeo system – which allows for full reversibility – the collector will own not three, but four watches in one, as the straps can be flipped up. With this interesting feature and countless options, it is hard to get bored with such a unique work of art.
The element of personalization is a very prominent feature of Bovet watches. How is this reflected in the models that will appear at the first store in Hanoi?
At Bovet, about 30-35% of the watches are created in a “personalized” way and that is one of the special elements of the brand. Bovet’s works, except for the standard ones, have the option of being unique according to the customer’s personality, from characters or a certain color for the dial or a special engraving. We are very rare in duplicating a certain model but in return, we are unique and personalized for collectors to own a masterpiece for themselves. And I believe that is what makes us different from other brands.
With a history of more than 200 years, Bovet has been developed and inherited by generations of brand lovers and visionaries. To continue this legacy, could you share with us your thoughts and plans?
First of all, I want to continue to innovate, to bring new ideas and distinctive designs, while at the same time preserving the identity that Bovet has. I don’t want to lose the history of Bovet in the path of innovation and creativity. So I want to do what Bovet has been doing and develop the brand.
BOVET 1822 has been successfully collaborating with S&S Group for a long time and the appearance of the boutique in Hanoi will mark the next step in the brand's development in Vietnam. The Vietnamese market is expected to grow rapidly in the near future and BOVET is honored to be a part of this collaborative journey.
Thank you for your meaningful sharing today!
