SpotlightA Cyclic Effect Of Time And Tradition: Bovet Récital 30 And Récital 12

Known for unveiling timepieces that show off high technology with phantasmagorical imagery is Swiss independent watchmaker Bovet. Living up to this solid past is their latest Récital 30, released on March 30, 2025, the day we switched to Daylight Saving Time (DST) this year. The timepiece, available in grade 5 titanium and 18-karat red gold references, adopts the award-winning world-time roller system of the previous iteration, Récital 28, displaying 25 time zones (including New Delhi, India) while adjusting seamlessly for time changes. The brand have also unveiled Récital 12, a relatively far simpler timepiece than the complicated Récital 30, categorised as a small dialled wonder at just 36mm case size.

A Symphonous Coexistence Of 26 Time Zones, Four Time Periods: Bovet Récital 30

To comprehend the workings of the Bovet Récital 30, one must start with Récital 28 Prowess 1. It was launched in 2024 and won the GPHG trophy the same year under the category of Mechanical Exception. The Bovet Prowess 1 did the impossible of solving the Daylight Saving Time problem, a solution devised by none other than the founder Pascal Raffy himself. Bovet claims that world time watches wrongly display DST that starts and ends at different times in different countries and used to be off by a good one hour. The Récital 30 changed this by devising an innovative roller that accurately displays 25 global time zones, which can be adjustable to any of the four time periods of the year UTC—Coordinated Universal Time, American Summer Time, European and American Summer Time, and European Winter Time. A top pusher on the case right rotates each roller by 90 degrees, while the bottom pusher advances the central 24-hour world dial by an hour with every click.

The Récital 30 also incorporates DST in places like India, posing a tricky problem with a 30 minute off-set. In the Coordinated Universal Time version, New Delhi is in black on the dial indicated via a yellow/red arrow, and the second colour-matched (silver on the titanium, gold on the 18-karat red gold version) minute hand is linked to New Delhi time (with its 30-minute off-set). Collectors thus can attune the dial to their global travel and connections by adjusting the city names or even the Indian version to the Universal version. Encouraging this time-play is the self-winding movement, calibre R30-70-001, comprising 373 components, which beats at 28,800vph and offers 62-hour power reserve. Récital 30 also debuts the first specimen of the in-house case production, created at their facility in Tramelan. Joining the highly decorated movements, is the caseback, this time etched in quintessential hand-engraved Fleurisanne patterns that have gained instant recall for Bovet watches.

To Infinity And Beyond: Bovet Récital 12 36MM

The Bovet Récital 12 enchants for its tiny instances of attention to detail. Its feminine case sized at 36mm comes in tow with an integrated metal bracelet featuring a ‘V’ pattern, which upon closing forms an infinity symbol. Its hour and minute hands that form heart once an hour! The dialled variants are available in raspberry and turquoise lacquer, but one can choose a customised white mother-of-pearl dial as well.

The Bovet Récital 12 enchants for its tiny instances of attention to detail. Its feminine case sized at 36mm comes in tow with an integrated metal bracelet featuring a ‘V’ pattern, which upon closing forms an infinity symbol

The hour and minute hands that form heart once an hour!

Deserving special mention is the signature ‘fleur de lotus’ guilloché pattern gracing the dial, which reflects the brand’s symbol of the 12-petalled lotus flower; for 12 hours of the day and night. The guilloché case back, inspired by a heritage pocket watch housed in the Bovet museum at the 14th-century Château de Môtiers. Adding the right mix of glitter are 56 brilliant-cut diamonds crowning the bezel over the stainless steel case. Powered by a self-winding movement Calibre 11BA15, comprising 91 parts, with 25 jewels, beats 28,800vph, and offers 42 hours of power reserve.