Introducing Bovet Récital 12 in Titanium: The Bracelet Makes a Difference

The bracelet of a watch is an important component that influences the timepiece’s overall appearance, functionality, and wearability. High-quality materials and well-designed links for bracelets can ensure a secure, snug fit on the wrist. What’s more, materials like titanium, which are often used by watchmakers for bracelets, are extremely durable, and resistant to wear and tear. 

If we look at Bovet, the brand’s timepieces are usually known for a formal style that pays homage to their rich heritage. Bovet owner Pascal Raffy's new Récital 12, however, marks a new chapter in the brand's history. His first bracelet watch steers Bovet's elegance towards a more casual direction, while maintaining the brand's distinctive craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Essentially, the variant was designed in response to collectors' desire for an everyday-wear timepiece, specifically completed on a bracelet. Says Raffy, “Bovet has traditionally been a strap House, but we have had many collectors from all over the world asking for a metal bracelet.” He stresses, “I’m very detail-oriented when it comes to comfort and design, so I knew if we did a bracelet, it would have to be as close to perfect as possible. My team and I worked on this timepiece for two full years, going through version after version to get it absolutely right.” And these efforts have indeed resulted in a striking product.

The new watch fits well inside a 40 mm Dimier case. The openworked design reveals the details of a fresh movement. This hand-wound movement, which has 227 components, is created in-house, and this includes the hairspring. It has an inverted structure, with the balance wheel, the regulating organ as well as a portion of the gear train providing the energy from the single barrel. A new bridge was created for the second cage, adding to the visual effect. On top of the seconds wheel rests a three-pronged running seconds indicator with three fire-blue hands positioned at 9 o’clock.

The construction of the off-set dial focuses on symmetry, with the hours and minutes shown at 3 o'clock and the power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock. Also made in-house, the dial comes in dark blue, emerald green or turquoise, and boasts a guilloche effect. It features the Bovet lotus flower theme, with 12 petals representing the hours. The dial is held in place by fire-blued screws and coated with eight layers of rich lacquer. 

This Bovet Récital 12 watch has a brand new movement wherein the baseplate of the movement, which is normally visible from the front of a clock, has been reversed. The new baseplate, which resembles a three-quarter plate, features a circular bridge with BOVET etched on it, allowing for a slimmer timepiece. Calibre 13BMDR12C2 running the watch delivers a seven-day power reserve, i.e. 168 hours of power reserve from a single barrel. Turning the watch over showcases the exhibition caseback. 

Let’s now focus on the titanium bracelet of the watch. Titanium is an ideal material for timepieces because it is lightweight yet robust, resistant to corrosion and scratch, and hypoallergenic. The grade 5 titanium used in this watch is an alpha-beta alloy, composed of 90% titanium, 6% aluminium, and 4% vanadium, which provides an outstanding balance of high strength, low density, and corrosion resistance. The Récital 12 bracelet has a combination of polished and matte-brushed surfaces as well as the "V" of BOVET, resulting in a cohesive design. When the folding clasp is closed, the tips of the V form an infinite symbol. The titanium used in Récital 12 is completely recyclable, demonstrating the brand’s dedication to sustainability. Its clever folding clasp has an expansion mechanism that allows for up to 3 mm of flexibility to accommodate different wrist sizes.