As travel became global, time zones became blurry. After sundials, water clocks, and pocket clocks, in the 1930s, the world-timer complication was introduced —a new standard that lets you simultaneously see the hour and minute. Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced during World War I to save energy and have more daylight. However, not every country has followed suit. Tropical countries like Hawaii, Arizona, India, and a few other states in the United States ignore DST as the sunrise and sunset times don’t vary very much.
The House of BOVET is no stranger to multiple time zone timepieces, including dual-time, three-time zone, and world timepieces. With examples like the Orbus Mundi, BOVET has built a niche. Five years into development, the Swiss brand has now introduced the Récital 28 “Prowess 1,” a world-premiere timepiece that solves the modern timekeeping challenge posed by Daylight Saving Time (DST).
“With the Récital 20 Astérium, the Récital 22 Grand Récital, and the Récital 26 Chapter Two, we focused on combining the heavens and the Earth,” Mr. Pascal Raffy, owner and CEO of BOVET, details. “With the Récital 28 Prowess 1, we are solving the terrestrial time problem with a world timer that can be adjusted for all the variations in timekeeping around the world. With this timepiece, you will never be at a loss for what time it is anywhere in the world.”
But this timepiece’s technical prowess extends far beyond its world-time capabilities. Housed in a 46.3mm case, this exemplary timepiece boasts an expanded flying tourbillon, a perpetual calendar with roller-based indications, and an impressive 10-day power reserve from a single barrel. The date rolls back like a slot machine on the last day and month and gently stops by a unique dampening system.
At the heart of this remarkable watch lies an ingenious roller system, all controlled through the crown, allowing seamless adjustment to any of the 24 global time zones. Whether you’re tracking time in UTC, AST (American Summer Time), EAS (Europe and America Summer Time), and EWT (European Winter Time), the Récital 28 Prowess 1 ensures you’ll never be at a loss for the correct time, no matter where your travels take you.
Featuring 744 meticulously hand-finished components, the bevelling of the movement’s major structures is done using an angle rentrant method – where the corner is entrant when two chamfers meet on the inside. The watch’s real artistry lies behind it—the Cotes de Geneve, perlage, and other horological techniques provide a visual treat. Given the impeccable precision required, only eight timepieces will be produced annually. The timepieces are available in 18K Red Gold, 950 Platinum, and Grade 5 Titanium iterations.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a discerning enthusiast, the Récital 28 Prowess 1 is a timepiece that demands attention.
