In modern society, we have the world at our fingertips.

Quite possibly for the first time in the history of mankind, no member of an aristocracy, theocracy, or institution holds the key to information and understanding; instead, it is almost freely and equally available on the internet for all regardless of location or station.

I’ll admit the entire world is yet to have access to all of human knowledge via the internet, but the amount of information that is available in many parts of the world is staggering.

The numbers describing how much data is available on the internet are nearly meaningless to our brains as trying to comprehend just how much 12.8 million petabytes is would make most people’s heads explode.

There is estimated to be more information added to the internet every two days than all of humanity created in the preceding 10,000 years of human history until the mid-2000s. Ninety percent of the information on the internet has been created since 2016.

That is one massive world at our fingertips.

At a time like this, when so much is so close thanks to smartphones and the world wide web, sometimes it is nice to let the world shrink a bit.

Having the world at your fingertips is one thing, but what if it really was just the world underneath your fingertips as a simple representation of a thing so large and complicated no single person could comprehend it all?

Assembling a hemispherical indicator of the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon (photo courtesy www.patriceschreyer.com)

As a way to slow down while being reminded of the majesty of it all, Bovet Fleurier has a perfect answer: the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon.

The world split asunder (okay, cut in two)

The Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon is the latest Amadeo Fleurier model to come from the workshops of Bovet. And it was made to commemorate the unofficial 1818 beginning of Bovet in China when Edouard Bovet embarked on a journey that led him to Guangzhou, where he sold four exquisite watches and set the brand toward its successful future in the Middle Kingdom.

Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon in red gold (photo courtesy Marc Gysin Photo)

To mirror the world travels undertaken by Edouard, the latest watch features twin hemispheres and three time zones so it’s perfect for the busy world traveler. However, that drastically undersells just what exactly the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon is, so let’s take a closer look.

Lume shot: Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon glowing in the dark (photo courtesy Marc Gysin Photo)

The two hemispheres centered around the South Pole are rendered in titanium with Super-LumiNova for the oceans; they display nearly the entire surface of the earth.

Above each hemisphere is a city indicator window with city names corresponding to time zones of the globe. Each new city sees the hemisphere adjusted by one time zone. The ring around the hemispheres displays a 24-hour scale, each one offset 12 hours from the other.

The other side of the double-sided Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon

This allows each one to be easily differentiated from the other as the indicator hand and titanium dome rotate over the course of the day. Each of the auxiliary time zones can be adjusted via two pushers on the sides of the case, allowing the position of the globe and the hour hand to be set independently.

The local time is read from the center hands and is set traditionally by the crown, while a smaller dome below 12 o’clock rotates counterclockwise to provide an accurate indication of day and night.

The Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon movement in assembly (photo courtesy www.patriceschreyer.com)

While the day/night indicator is a simple domed gear, the more complex dual hemispheres representing earth are supported via ruby rollers around the perimeter, allowing them to rotate with the least amount of friction possible to help maintain the long power reserve of the watch.

The movement features a single large spring barrel providing ten days of power reserve – this is longer than most of the Bovet pieces usually outfitted with twin spring barrels. The use of one spring barrel is probably due to the architecture and space needed to drive the two extra time zones and the fact that one-quarter of the movement is open space dedicated to an always impressive flying tourbillon.

Playing with space

Bovet has a way of creating flying tourbillons that appear to float in midair – much more so than most others I’ve seen, barring perhaps the “mystery” tourbillons that utilize sapphire disks to float.

A close look at the intricately engraved movement plate of the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon (photo courtesy Marc Gysin Photo)

Bovet always seems to minimize the size of the flying tourbillon support structure to the point where it fades into the mechanism and feels nonexistent. This is achieved thanks to careful engineering of the tourbillon, using titanium to minimize weight and a double-sided flying tourbillon design that reduces friction from overhang since it is more balanced and centrally supported.

But the tourbillon isn’t just for looks: no, it aims to help maintain a consistent rate (though there is no available chronometric timing information) and display the continuous seconds via a nearly vertical indicator ring that marks off 20 of the 60 seconds it takes to make one rotation.

Patented movement of the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon (photo courtesy www.patriceschreyer.com)

On the rear of the movement, which also acts as the second face of the watch, we find a simple time indication tied to the local time display on the front and a straightforward power reserve.

The rest of the rear is outfitted with beautifully hand-engraved plates and bridges, while the dial is guilloche with applied blue lacquer. The decoration continues from the front with the upper part of the movement covered by a dial section with applied guilloche and matching lacquer.

All the of available movement surfaces on this side are hand engraved as well, though with a micro-beaded texture compared to the traditional engraving on the rear.

With all of the fine finishing and hand engraving, not to mention added complications, one would think that a watch of this caliber couldn’t possibly add anything else that would make it even cooler, but this is no mere watch.

It is from the Amadeo Fleurier line, which means it is transformable.

For those unfamiliar with the Amadeo Fleurier line, the case is easily transformable from a wristwatch into a pocket watch and even a table clock.

Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon in pocket watch form (photo courtesy Marc Gysin Photo)

This is made possible thanks to a quick-release system designed by Bovet that sees a set of cabochons on the bottom of the T-shaped lugs or the top bow that can be pushed to swap out the strap for a pendant – or to remove both to make the case into a table clock. That is accomplished with a separate release on the rear of the case unlocking a bezel ring that pivots out from the bottom of the case.

This bezel ring then becomes a stand that allows the Amadeo case to sit at a nice angle on any flat surface. While most owners may not switch the system regularly, this is a fairly unique solution to give wearers more choices with one timepiece. If anything, it allows you to use it as a table clock so that it isn’t hidden away in a dark watch box, or worse, a bank safe.

A watch like the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon really deserves to see the light of day as much as possible, and offering the option to change how it’s used really goes a long way in urging you to use it and see it.

Even if you don’t travel that often, if you are the type to purchase this watch you more than likely deal with people around the world on a regular basis. Having a triple time zone desk clock that also happens to be this ridiculously cool mechanical gadget is a great way to keep an eye on multiple places at once while also appreciating this level of haute horlogerie.

The Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon is another great addition to the Bovet collection with the implementation of three time zones alongside the always awesome Bovet flying tourbillon (seriously, it more than earns the title “flying”), making for a seriously visual creation.

I’ve clearly been a fan of what Bovet is doing, and this piece continues my fascination with the brand. There is a strong line connecting all of the brand’s pieces in recent years, and this is no different.

Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon

For a distinctive piece of high-end watchmaking, Bovet Fleurier delivers. And the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon is another ace.

To the breakdown!

• Wowza Factor * 9.72 Twin hemispheres with a double-sided movement and flying tourbillon, all changeable to three configurations – wow, indeed!
• Late Night Lust Appeal * 97.2 » 953.206 m/s2 Nearly the same force as a sprint missile, the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon can make you lust for days!
• M.G.R. * 67.2 The ten days of power reserve from one barrel with four time displays and a flying tourbillon is pretty darn geeky as movements go!
• Added-Functionitis * Severe Finally, a watch jam-packed with stuff! For this assembly you’ll probably want prescription-strength Gotta-HAVE-That cream for the worldly swelling!
• Ouch Outline * 10.1 Pencil lead underneath a fingernail! Sometimes weird things happen, like accidentally skewering your finger with a mechanical pencil. In just the right circumstance, weak things can do damage. Still, I just might do it again if it meant getting this flying tourbillon on my wrist!
• Mermaid Moment * A whole new world! Don’t you dare close your eyes, lest you miss the splendid hemispheres signaling that it’s time to settle down and book a chapel!
• Awesome Total * 1,072 Multiply the limited number of movements that will be made (60) by the days of power reserve (10), then add the total number of components in the movement (472) and you get a multiplied awesome total!

For more information, please visit www.bovet.com/timepiece/fleurier-grandes-complications-edouard-bovet-tourbillon.

Quick Facts Bovet Fleurier Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon
Case: 46 x 17.2 mm, red or white gold
Movement: hand-winding Caliber 16BM04-TT with one-minute flying tourbillon and ten-day power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; day/night indication, second and third time zones, twin city/time zone indication
Limitation: 60 movements
Price: CHF 315,000 for red gold; CHF 325,000 for white gold