he Récital 23, a staple in the Bovet collection for many years, serves as a canvas where high watchmaking meets the decorative arts. The base dial of this timepiece is hand-engraved, hand-chiselled and hand-finished. It appears to be fully set with diamonds, until closer examination reveals this to be an optical illusion created by artisanal expertise. The offset dial is the finishing touch, and this year the Récital 23 has been given a special colour and material treatment. Chiselled and then lacquered, the elegant viridescent dial has a unique character that speaks of the promise of lush greenery and endless summer days.

The Récital 23 comes in Bovet’s signature Writing Desk case, which presents the dial at a comfortable angle while on the wrist. Available in 18K red gold, the 43mm x 38.70mm case is available set with 174 round-cut diamonds (0.99 ct) with a further 72 diamonds on the bezel (1.00 ct) and a cabochon crown, as pictured here, or simply bezel set. All versions come with diamond indices.

The uniquely-shaped hour and minute hands gracefully glide over the beautiful dial, making room for the precision moon phase of the Récital 23. In a romantic touch, the hands form the shape of a heart every hour. The moon phase display at 12 o’clock links terrestrial time to the heavens. The moon itself is engraved to evoke the lunar surface and filled with luminescent material – a challenge in itself due to the indicator’s camber. The phase of the moon is read via a three-dimensional circular aperture that requires over a day’s work to be manufactured and decorated. The precision mechanism used to drive the moon phase requires correction only once every 122 years.

Keen to develop useful complications that can be used every day, Pascal Raffy – Bovet 1822’s owner – incorporated a push button into the real sapphire cabochon of the crown so as to be able to adjust the moon phase. Setting the moon phase display has never been easier – no tools are needed. Powered by a high-watchmaking automatic movement, the hand-engraved gold rotor features Bovet’s Fleurisanne motif, visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.

Price: CHF 70,000

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