Bovet Chronograph Spillman Case - Valjoux 71 - 38mm

This Bovet chronograph dates from the 1940s and is the epitome of a classic 20th century chronograph.

Although the best-known vintage chronographs date from the 1960s and 1970s, the history of wristwatch chronographs began much earlier. The 1940s and early 1950s in particular was a crucial period for chronograph design. Before 1910, the wristwatch was considered a women's accessory for a long time. During the First World War, chronographs appeared on the wrists of soldiers, who adopted this fashion into their civilian lives after the end of the war. Many chronographs from this period are revered as the ultimate chronographs thanks to their clean lines. They mark the beginning of wristwatches.

This also includes the Bovet chronograph presented here from the late 1940s. Bovet is a traditional manufacturer founded in London in 1822, which made numerous contributions to the development of chronographs. In the 1930s, Bovet filed a patent for a mono-rattrapante function, which became Bovet's specialty.

This Bovet chronograph is ultra rare. It features a multicolor dial whose pure and distinctive design is difficult to describe in words, so we'll let the pictures do the talking. A tachymeter scale in blue and a telemeter scale in red are attached to the edge of the dial. These overlap with the three sub-dials. The inner surface of the dial has a darker shade than the outer surface, which is why this dial is also called "two-tone". And then there are the metallic hands, which take on a beautiful blued hue in certain light.

The 38mm stainless steel case, which was oversized back then, is another special feature of this chronograph. Born in 1861, Charles Rodolphe Spillman made a name for himself in the Swiss watch industry in the 1890s. The Spillman case was one of the best-known case manufacturers of that time and accepted orders from numerous well-known watch manufacturers. The Spillman case is characterized by its elegant faceted lugs.

Condition report
Dial: excellent condition - absolutely even patina - no scratches - completely intact tachymeter and telemeter scale - original hands.

Case: intact lugs - hardly any signs of wear - sharp engraving on the case back.

Movement: manual-wound caliber Valjoux 71 - rate: -2 s/day, amplitude: 246, beat error: 4.2. Starting, stopping and resetting the chronograph to the 12 works perfectly.

Summing-Up
This Bovet chronograph is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful chronographs from the middle of the 20th century. There is something undeniably attractive about it that invites you to take a closer look and admire it.

Case number: 4300

Int.Exe.: 1259035