Time zones blurred as travel became more global. 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, or DST, was first introduced in World War I as a way to save energy while gaining more daylight. Not all countries have 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.
BOVET has a long history of producing timepieces for multiple time zones, such as dual-time, world, and three-time zone. BOVET’s Orbus Mundi is a good example of how they have carved out a niche. The Swiss brand, after five years of development, has introduced the Récital 28 “Prowess 1,” A world-premiere clock that addresses the challenge of modern timekeeping posed by Daylight Saving Time.
“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. The 46.3mm case houses an exemplary timepiece that boasts an extended flying tourbillon and a perpetual calendar. It also has a 10-day battery life from just one barrel. The date will roll backwards like a machine in the last day or month, and stop gently by using a dampening mechanism.
This remarkable watch is powered by an ingenious system of rollers, which can be adjusted through the crown to fit any of the 24 time zones around the world. 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. Only eight watches will be produced each year due to the precision needed. The timepieces come in 18K Red Gold and 950 Platinum iterations, as well as Grade 5 Titanium.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a discerning enthusiast, the Récital 28 Prowess 1 is a timepiece that demands attention.