Cover The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 is a masterful display of haute horlogerie
The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 is a masterful display of haute horlogerie
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By accounting for Daylight Saving Time in both the US and EU, Bovet’s new timepiece takes the worldtimer one major step forward
The worldtimer is a distinctive complication. Conceived to offer at-a-glance convenience for its wearer, it shows all 24 (or more) time zones simultaneously, each marked by a major city. It is this function that gives each worldtimer watch its iconic look. Since its introduction in the 1930s, the complication has remained virtually unchanged. This extends to its singular constraint: the inability to account for adjustments due to Daylight Saving Time. With Bovet’s Récital 28 Prowess 1, however, this hurdle has been overcome—in a masterful display of haute horlogerie, no less.
Above The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1
The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1
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Daylight Saving: A Primer
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is also known as Summer Time. As its name suggests, it’s a system that adjusts civil time in summer by shifting the time forward—usually by an hour. This has practical effects: sunrise is pushed back by an hour to be closer to the time people actually wake up, and sunset is likewise postponed by an hour to “save” some daylight for activities after work.
The problem with the system lies in its vagaries. For a start, not all countries observe DST—only around 70 countries use some form of it, with most of them located at the temperate latitudes that see significant variances in daylight hours between summer and winter. What’s more, as DST is a civil system with no links to astronomic or chronometric observations, Europe and the Americas have different dates for starting and stopping DST.
Above To account for DST, Bovet has developed a novel system that uses rollers to allow the worldtimer’s 24 time zones to be adjusted using just the crown
To account for DST, Bovet has developed a novel system that uses rollers to allow the worldtimer’s 24 time zones to be adjusted using just the crown
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Shifting Time
To account for DST, Bovet has developed a novel system that uses rollers to allow the worldtimer’s 24 time zones to be adjusted using just the crown. The mechanism is as ingenious as it is simple: each roller has four cities printed on it, and these four sets of displays will sequentially keep track of DST in the US and EU.
Take 2024, for instance. From 1 January to 9 March, DST is not in effect, so the UTC “mode” is engaged on the timepiece. The next day, on 10 March, DST comes into effect in the US, so the wearer pushes the crown once to activate American Summer Time—the rollers rotate 90 degrees, with some cities being displayed changing accordingly. When the EU observes DST on 31 March, another press of the crown activates Europe and America Summer Time.
The EU doesn’t observe DST at a later date though—it also stops DST earlier, so on 27 October, yet another push of the crown activates Europe Winter Time, while keeping the US’s observance of DST unchanged. Finally, when the US stops DST on 3 November, a final press on the crown for the year reverts the worldtimer back to “regular” UTC.
Above In lieu of a classic interpretation, Bovet has created a variant that uses rollers for the date, month, and leap year indication
In lieu of a classic interpretation, Bovet has created a variant that uses rollers for the date, month, and leap year indication
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Perfect accompaniments
While the newly developed worldtimer complication is the timepiece’s headlining feature here, Bovet has also included two other hallmarks of technical watchmaking.
The first is the expanded flying tourbillon—so named by Bovet because its components have been “separated” by their function, with the escapement moved completely to one side while the cage continues to carry the balance wheel and hairspring. The result of this is an especially open and transparent take on the flying tourbillon with a cage that, at 0.35 grams, also happens to be the brand’s lightest yet.
Of course, “separating” the tourbillon’s components does create a taller, expanded stack. Bovet, however, has cleverly integrated this into the timepiece by positioning the mechanism at 12 o’clock, where the Récital 28 Prowess 1’s trademarked Writing Desk case is at its thickest. The result? A seamless synergy where form follows function.
The finishing touch here is the perpetual calendar. As the complication that epitomises haute horlogerie, its inclusion here is not unexpected. What’s surprising, however, is its execution: in lieu of a classic interpretation, Bovet has created a variant that uses rollers for the date, month, and leap year indication. At the end of each month, the day and month displays advance forward as per normal. The large date display, however, “resets” by rolling backwards instead, with a special dampening system to ease the rollers to a gentle stop. This is yet another display of Bovet’s savoir faire—and yet another visual treat for the wearer.
Above The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 features an especially open and transparent take on the flying tourbillon with a cage that, at 0.35 grams, also happens to be the brand’s lightest yet
The Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1 features an especially open and transparent take on the flying tourbillon with a cage that, at 0.35 grams, also happens to be the brand’s lightest yet
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A horological rarity
The Récital 28 Prowess 1 is handcrafted, which limits production given the work that goes into finishing and assembling every movement component. While the model isn’t a limited edition, just eight pieces will be produced annually. Connoisseurs will be pleased to know that this exceptional creation will be offered in platinum, red gold, as well as titanium.
For more information on the Bovet Récital 28 Prowess 1, click here.
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Images: Bovet
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