For the majority of people, personalizing a car amounts to choosing options, colors, and floor mats. But when money is no option, that’s where things get truly interesting.

When a Bovet 1822 and Rolls-Royce collector decided to create his own coachbuilt car, he wanted to combine his passion for fine timepieces from the very inception of the project.

Right at the beginning, the house of BOVET was approached to develop two bespoke timepieces that could go from the wrist to the dashboard and back again, all very easily. Both Bovet 1822 and Rolls-Royce accepted this unique challenge, and after three years of R&D, trial and error, and more than 3,000 hours of work, the project has finally been revealed. The Rolls-Royce designed and developed the Boat Tail car and at the same time Bovet developed two bespoke timepieces along with a system to mount them in the Boat Tail’s fascia as a dashboard clock. Created completely in-house at Bovet 1822, the pair timepieces had to be tested just like any other part of the car – for vibration, noise, temperature, safety and security, up to and including crash tests. "As a long-time Rolls-Royce owner and lover, I am particularly pleased to have an opportunity to work on such a special bespoke project,” explains Pascal Raffy, owner, Bovet 1822. “The engineers, designers, watchmakers, and artisans at Bovet 1822 went above and beyond to personalize these exceptional timepieces for the clients, integrating their wishes and key elements of the coach-built car itself. On top of this, both of the timepieces are able to be placed into a display mount designed specifically for this purpose, effectively making them part of the car and subject to the norms of automobile production standards. "I am so proud of the Bovet 1822 team, who worked in tandem with the elite design team of Rolls-Royce, to produce something spectacular," Mr. Raffy continues. "The owners of the coach-built car and these bespoke timepieces are dear friends of mine and valued collectors of Bovet 1822, so it was important to do the very best for them -- two completely unique pieces that are unlike anything we have ever done before. » For Rolls-Royce, this introduction is a return to the marque’s illustrious past. “This marks a seminal moment for the House of Rolls-Royce. We are proud to unveil to the world the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail and with it the confirmation of coachbuilding as a permanent fixture within our future portfolio,” says Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce.

A TRUE COLLABORATION WITH BOVET 1822

In a move that further demonstrates the clients’ visionary approach to contemporary patronage, two great luxury Houses with a common pursuit of perfection have been brought together at the clients’ behest. World-class craftspeople from the House of Bovet 1822, which was founded on the philosophy of ingenuity and engineering, were called upon to work hand-in-hand with Rolls-Royce’s own masters in their field.

The mechanically-minded clients sought to break new ground in horology. As esteemed collectors of both the Switzerland-based House of Bovet and Rolls-Royce, their vision was to create exquisite, ground-breaking timepieces for their Boat Tail. In an act of tireless endeavor and genuine collaboration, the Houses have come together to re-imagine Rolls-Royce’s iconic centerpiece, the dashboard clock. The result is an accomplishment never before realized in either industry. Two fine reversable timepieces, one for the lady and one for the gentleman, have been designed to be worn on the wrist, used as a table clock, pendant or pocket timepiece, or placed front and center within the Boat Tail’s fascia as the motor car’s clock.

THE MOUNTING MECHANISM

The holder mechanism, made up of 51 individual components, designed completely by Bovet, started from a blank sheet of paper, as nothing like this had ever been produced before. The designers and engineers in BOVET focused on adapting the patented Amadeo convertible system, which was introduced in 2010 and is tried and proven, as the base of the system. The timepieces, the holder, and the Boat Tail car were being designed at the same time, so there were many moving parts to this story. Adding to this was the requirement by Rolls-Royce that the system be developed and mounted into the dashboard at the exact time the interior of the car was finished, as no one wanted to have to open up the dashboard later. There was a tremendous amount of back and forth between Bovet and Rolls-Royce. So many things had to be taken into consideration – any vibration from the car had to be isolated from the timepieces or compensated for, no noise could emit from timepieces, and the system had to be simple, easy to use, and, above all, safe and secure.

From the start, Bovet was determined to accomplish this project in a purely mechanical way, in keeping with its commitment to its in-house, Swiss Handcrafted production. As a result, the engineers and designers had to devise new solutions as they were encountering challenges that they never saw in watchmaking. The solution they chose was to keep all the mechanical parts of the system on the outside of the dashboard. Usually in anything similar, the fixation system never moves, and the movable piece just slots in, like sliding a CD into a CD player. Here it is exactly the opposite – in the dashboard is simply the place for the holder, which is equipped with all the mechanical pieces.

In addition, a special drawer was designed and produced as well, using the same leather as the seats in the Boat Tail. This holds the timepieces, the straps, the chain, the pendant, when not in use. This drawer slides into the dash as well, neatly and cleanly keeping everything in place and secure. Should the timepiece not be mounted in the holder and put into the dashboard, there is a special laser-engraved and lacquered display plaque in its place, to complete the aesthetic of the dashboard.

THE COMPLETELY UNIQUE BOVET 1822 TIMEPIECES

Bovet has a long history of creating pair timepieces, initially for the China market, and then for worldwide customers. Conceived to be completely original, the two tourbillon timepieces, one for the husband and one for the wife, use newly-designed 18K white gold 44mm cases, precision tourbillon movements, and special dials on both faces. Using the above-mentioned Amadeo system, which was invented by Mr. Raffy and is patent protected by and exclusive to Bovet 1822, these timepieces are reversible and can be converted without any tools. The gentleman’s timepiece is high polished while the lady’s timepiece is ornately engraved then filled with blue lacquer, entirely done in Bovet 1822’s in-house artisanal workshop.

3,000 HOURS

The conservative estimate of the total number of hours that went into this entire project is 3,000 hours, including the design, the engineering, the sculptures, the miniature painting, the marquetry, the creation of bespoke movements and cases, and more.

THE CHALLENGE OF THE BOAT TAIL

“Rolls-Royce Boat Tail challenges the notion of what a motor car is and creates a new definition of what a motor car means,” says Alex Innes, Head of Rolls-Royce Coachbuild Design, Rolls-Royce.

“Boat Tail exists far beyond a mere means of transport. It is not just the method to reach a destination, but the destination itself. It is a concept of extraordinary scope, resulting in a work of art of historical significance.”

In a similar way, the two unique timepieces accomplish the basic goal, timekeeping, but are more about appreciating beauty, enjoying the journey, and sharing the amazing experience.