The fleurisanne engraving

Most of the finishing work that goes into a BOVET watch is vital to its performance and reliability. But for metalwork to be expressed as an art, it must escape the bounds of functional necessity.

Such an art is fleurisanne engraving. This spectacular 19th century engraving technique is a BOVET speciality used to decorate the bridges and bars of its movements, the rotors of its self-winding watches as well as some cases and dials.

Fleurisanne is the art of carving metal in high relief with a contrasting background.

The craftsman cuts away metal to leave a pattern in relief, like raised type. The raised surfaces are then delicately engraved — usually in scrolls, acanthus or geometric patterns — while the surrounding base is hammer-stippled to create a grainy background. Like all artwork, it requires the simplest tools, the greatest skill and hours of concentration.

Fleurisanne decorations are only mastered by a few artists who can work metal with extreme dexterity.