Retrograde Marvels: BOVET Introduces Three New Récital 21 Perpetual Calendar Variants with Sapphire Crystal Dials

The perpetual calendar is one of the most renowned and technically complex watch complications. It accommodates the varied lengths of months, including February and leap years, displaying the accurate date without the need for manual adjustment. Over the past 23 years, BOVET has specialised in the perpetual calendar complication, considered one of the most difficult ones in the high watchmaking pantheon of complexities. At BOVET, the perpetual calendar is often paired with other complexities, as seen in the award-winning Récital 22 Grand Récital and Récital 28 Prowess One references. This year, BOVET has unveiled three new versions of Récital 21 with sapphire crystal dials in three captivating hues ― green, blue, and smoked.

Sapphire crystal dials are widely valued in watchmaking for their outstanding durability, scratch resistance, and clarity. Sapphire crystal, one of the strongest materials after diamonds, efficiently protects watch faces from scratches and daily use, ensuring long-term clarity and flawless appearance. Its outstanding transparency improves a dial's legibility by allowing the exquisite elements of the watch design to shine through. Furthermore, with advances in anti-reflective coatings, sapphire crystals can reduce glare, improving visibility even in intense light. These characteristics make sapphire crystal an excellent choice for both luxury and everyday timepieces, providing great durability.

The 44.4 mm polished Grade 5 titanium writing desk case watches from BOVET get a crown set with a natural blue sapphire colour at 3 o’clock. With the bezel inclined at 6 o’clock, each case resembles a writing slope; there are four screwed lugs. The thickness of the case varies; the case has a height of 15.4 mm and it slims down to 10.25 mm at the bottom. The main novelty, though, is the sapphire crystal dial revealing parts of the movement. With the exception of the date, indicated by a retrograde hand that rotates around the hours and minutes, the discs display the days and months in vertical apertures at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively while the leap year cycle is displayed in a circular aperture at 3 o’clock. A little, luminous-tipped, arrow-shaped hand emerges from behind the central hands, indicating the day in tow.

To enhance the visual impact, BOVET's watchmakers have created a mechanism that slows down the date hand during its retrograde jump, resulting in a dramatic effect that is best seen when the last day of the month moves to the first ― a pleasure worth sticking up for beyond midnight, especially on New Year's Eve. The central hands are also longer, pointing to a peripheral minutes track with luminescent arrow-shaped hour markers and circular minute markers.

The watchmaker has also devised an inventive method that streamlines adjustments to all signs. There are, of course, separate correctors for the day and date, day of the week, and month functions, and the day and date corrector advances every indicator with each press. So, if the wearer wishes to reset the timepiece after it has been stopped for several days, they can simply press this special corrector until the correct date appears. The perpetual calendar's other features (day of the week, month, leap year) are all synchronised at the same time. 

Running the watch is a manual-wind movement with a five-day power reserve from a single barrel. Turning the timepiece over showcases the patented double coaxial seconds mechanism as well as the power reserve indicator. The power reserve is optimised by the complete hand-finishing of all components, and the in-house balance spring and regulating organ, entirely designed and manufactured in the BOVET workshops. The watches are finished on leather straps, each matching the dial colour.