1940s Bovet Mono-Rattrapante with clamshell case

Bovet, an old and renowned watchmaker from 1822, is known as the inventor of the transparent case back and as the first Swiss watchmaker to approach the Chinese market in the early 1800s. Introduced in the 1940s, the Bovet Mono-Rattrapante is a two-register chronograph powered by the Valjoux 84. It has a similar function as a Rattrapante, but with one hand, hence ‘Mono’ Rattrapante.

This chronograph is a mono-pusher, activated by the top pusher. The bottom pusher, when pressed, stops the chronograph hands for easy reading. When this pusher is released, the hands go back to where they should be, if not stopped.

Its seldom seen dial has two shades of champagne gold, which create a very nice contrast and bring out the pulsometrie and tachymetric scales very well. It has luminous hands and Arabic numerals in radium (original and untouched). Moreover unique, it comes in a rare BovetFreres signed “clamshell” case. This case allows the waterproofness of the watch thanks to the 2 parts of the case which fit one in the other like a shell, maintained by 4 screws at each base of the lugs.

This very rare and exceptionally well-preserved piece is a premier choice for collectors.