19Thirty Meteorite

The allure of the stars is inescapable. Ever since humankind began walking this planet, people have looked to the heavens for omens, signs, inspiration, and hope. Meteorites, as they once traversed the cosmos at incredible speeds, their very natures shaped into unusual patterns, embody these emotions.

As American author Jack London so eloquently said, “I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” How fitting that this incredible material makes up the complete dial of this new Special Edition 19Thirty from BOVET 1822. Having a piece of something not of this Earth in your timepiece, there to admire whenever you want, is nothing short of miraculous – a true slice of heaven.

The dial of this limited edition of 60 timepieces is pure meteorite, part of the famous Gibeon meteorite that is estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. The Widmanstätten pattern (the lines you see on the dial) is only revealed after the slice of meteorite is etched using nitric acid. These lines and patterns are the result of melting and cooling in outer space over billions of years.

Meteorites are among some of the oldest and rarest materials on Earth and have been falling from the sky for eons. Believed to have begun their life as part of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, meteorites are natural materials that have been knocked out of orbit by colliding with other objects. These pieces of the heavens plummet towards earth at tremendous speeds, reaching up to 28,000 kilometers per hour, transforming into an intensely burning meteor, or shooting star, for a short moment before colliding with the Earth.

Meteorites are always named for the places where they were found, often after a nearby town or geographic feature. The Gibeon meteorite, which is where the shard in this timepiece comes from, was first discovered in 1836 in the deserts of Namibia, Africa near the village of Gibeon and is thought to have landed there over 40 million years ago. The Gibeon meteorites are composed of iron, nickel and small amounts of cobalt and are classified as a fine octahedrite iron meteorite. Gibeon meteorites are known to be the most stable of iron meteorites, with unmistakable structures. They are not toxic nor are they magnetic, so they are not harmful to you or your timepiece.

 The timepiece showcasing this incredible dial is the 19Thirty, which has seven (7) days of power reserve from a single barrel. The manufacture movement is finished just like BOVET’s high complications and can be admired through the exhibition back – something BOVET pioneered back in the 1800s.

 The front dial, with its light-catching pattern, is absolutely unique, thanks to the way each piece of meteorite changes after cutting and etching.

A slice of heaven, indeed.