The Bovet Pininfarina Cambiano

Bovet present the stunning Bovet Pininfarina Cambiano.

Did begrudging grumblings resound around the watch industry when Bovet hooked up with Pininfarina?  You bet they did.  After all, which manufacture wouldn't be delighted to have that iconic Pininfarina signature across their watch dials?  Of course Bovet gained the product design expertise and reputation of the Italian firm when the partnership was forged, but the reverse is also true.  Bovet 1822, originally founded in that year is a revived brand, having lain dormant for almost ninety years it was re-discovered by Pascal Raffy in 2001 (...an industry savvy individual who refreshingly, is also passionate about horlogerie and not just profits) who has also acquired Dimier 1738, a creative melting pot of artisans, craftsmen and mechanical technicians.  So it would seem that Pininfarina also has much to gain from their choice of horological partner.  The first Pinninfarina/Bovet collaboration was the Tourbillon Ottanta, a fetching tourbillon which completes a revolution in 80 seconds as a tribute to Pininfarina's 80th anniversary.  The latest piece, the Chronograph Cambiano retains some of the design touches of the more exclusive tourbillon piece along with the strong monochrome aesthetics, and as you would expect form such sublime parentage is rather tasty indeed.

Chronographs are extremely useful, of that there is no doubt.  This piece excels - using Bovet's ingenious Amadeo case, which converts from wristwatch to table clock, pocket watch or sports timer, the watch is literally a 4-in-one.  On the dial are minutes counter at 9, hour counter at 3, seconds in the centre and big date at 12 o'clock.  Blue subdial hands and that big curly serpentine seconds hand contrast with the dark toned dial.  For the case, more contrasting features - circular satin finishing on the steel caseband and caseback, while the bezel has a coating of black DLC.  Whichever format you choose to adapt, those sleek pushers - pure Pininfarina, are perfectly positioned.

Inside is the Bovet Fleurier Calibre 13BA01 with 50 hours power reserve.  That Amadeo case measures 45mm across and is water resistant to 100m.  The Bovet Pininfarina Cambiano Edition 2011 comes presented on a rubber strap with ardillon stainless steel buckle.