very Bovet timepiece is designed to display the necessary information in the most readable way. In the Récital 21, the hour and minute hands are positioned in the centre of the dial, allowing more space around the outside for the perpetual calendar display.

The coloured, slightly smoked sapphire crystal dial gives a glimpse of the complex mechanism that drives the timepiece. The day of the week and the month are visible alongside the intricate array of gears, pinions and wheels in motion. The date is displayed by a retrograde hand that rotates around the hours and minutes, while the days and months are shown in vertical apertures at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively. The leap year cycle is presented in a circular aperture at 3 o’clock.

The new sapphire crystal dial showcases the perpetual calendar mechanism to full effect, allowing the wearer to see how everything works without detracting from its primary function – to display essential information. Achieving the perfect balance of colour, transparency and clarity in the sapphire crystal was a challenge, but Bovet has executed it flawlessly.

To add to the visual impact, Bovet’s watchmakers have developed a mechanism that slows down the date hand during its retrograde jump back to the start of the month – a dramatic effect best appreciated when the date transitions from the last day of the month to the first. It’s a treat worth staying up for, especially on New Year’s Eve.

The new sapphire crystal dial version of the Récital 21 is available in grade 5 titanium in Bovet’s iconic writing desk case whose design ensures the timepiece sits comfortably on the wrist as the time is presented to the wearer.

Price: CHF 92,000 (excluding tax). Limited edition of 60 in each colour.

www.bovet.com