Twin Titans
The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a unique, by-commission car that spared no expense in its pursuit of individuality. This extends to its timekeeping, for which the British marque teamed up with Bovet, a specialist in extravagant Swiss horology. The watchmaker’s contribution was a pair of unique wristwatches, one for him and one for her, that double as a dashboard clock. The double-faced tourbillon watches use a modified version of the maison’s patented Amadeo system, which allows them to be converted into a pocket watch or table clock, and in this case mounted directly into the Boat Tail’s fascia. It took years of research to develop the system, which was thoroughly tested for durability and reliability, subjected to various conditions of vibration, temperature and humidity – even undergoing crash testing. The project took over 3,000 hours to complete.
The watches bear the trademarks of Bovet’s lavish finishing and construction; hand-applied wood marquetry on the front dial as well as a hand-sculpted miniature of the Spirit of Ecstasy. The reverse dials feature a sculpture of the Boat Tail, with details such as wheels and handles highlighted with miniature painting.