In 2016, Bovet 1822 unveiled the Shooting Star tourbillon, the first timepiece in an exclusive collection dedicated to astronomy. The Astérium and Grand Récital tourbillons then followed in 2017 and 2018 respectively. This trilogy explores new ways of expressing time measurement. Its characteristic writing-slope shaped case, designed by Bovet 1822 owner, Mr. Raffy, features a bezel inclined at 6 o’clock. This ingenious idea makes diversifying the types of displays possible by using domes, rollers, discs, and three-dimensional hands to enhance intuitiveness, ergonomics, and elegance. The threedimensional design prioritizes information for better readability and brings the collector’s eye to the heart of the movement to discover the excellence found in each detail.
Aside from the perpetual calendar in the Grand Récital tourbillon, this function had yet to be introduced in the Dimier Collection. The Récital 21 Perpetual Calendar with Retrograde Date thus carves out a place of honor in the collection. The 44.40 mm timepiece is available in titanium and red gold and complemented with a full skin alligator strap with 18K red or white gold ardillon buckle.
Each Bovet timepiece is designed to display useful readable information and to be able to adjust this information intuitively in daily wear, and the Récital 21 is no exception. The minute and hour hands are located in the center of the timepiece, providing more space in the periphery for perpetual calendar information. With the exception of the calendar, shown by a retrograde index that rotates around the hours and minutes, the discs display the days and months in vertical apertures at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively, while the leap year cycle is displayed in a circular aperture at 3 o’clock. The seconds hand is situated at at 9 o’clock. For improved reliability and longevity, a mechanism slows down the indicator during its retrograde jump.
Turning the timepiece over to the movement side - the hand-wound Caliber 113DM05-QPR - the collector will notice the patented double coaxial seconds mechanism, as well as the five-day power reserve indicator. This guaranteed performance comes from a unique barrel, which is optimized by the balance spring, entirely designed and manufactured in the Bovet 1822 workshops.
To further enhance the collector’s ease of use, an ingenious system has been developed that drastically reduces and streamlines adjustments to its various indications. There are dedicated correctors for the days, date, and month functions-simultaneously. So, if the collector wishes to adjust their timekeeper after it has been stopped for several days, they simply have to activate this unique corrector until the correct date is shown. Adjusting all the functions of the Récital 21 are thus fully synchronized.
Just like the hand-decorated movement, which has been executed to the most exacting standards, the dial showcases the range of the Bovet 1822 artisanal virtuosity. For the central dial and the seconds dial, they have chosen the iconic blue circular brushed finish, which has been widely embrace since its introduction in 2015. After the surface brush treatment has been carefully applied, the dial is colored and artisans then apply eight layers of lacquer. These are then polished to provide the dial’s luster and characteristic depth. The peripheral surface of the calendar indicator is rhodium plated and the collector can choose between a circular “Côtes de Genève” motif or the “Fleurisanne” motif hand-engraved by the Maison’s artist-engravers.
