he Récital 30 was always in the plan, from the very beginning of the research to solve the Daylight Saving Time problem, which started six years ago,” states Pascal Raffy, owner of Bovet. This new timepiece is the everyday evolution of the award-winning Récital 28 Prowess 1, introduced last year with an innovative roller system allowing world travellers to accurately display 25 global time zones during the four time periods of the year – UTC, American Summer Time, Europe and America Summer Time, and European Winter Time. A first in watchmaking!

While the Récital 28 was limited to a total 60 movements, and only six can be hand-crafted each year, the new Récital 30, which was developed alongside its “big brother”, is not limited, giving everyone access to the world time system, the result of over six years of development.

Since he acquired the House in 2001, Pascal Raffy has been fascinated by the heavens and its relationship with the Earth. As he explains, “When I sit in the courtyard at Château de Môtiers [the brand’s headquarters], I always think about useful and meaningful timepieces. It’s more important than ever that the time we have on our wrist connect to the world, which seems so small, so within reach.”

RÉCITAL 30: Case Dimier case. 42mm diameter, 12.9mm thick. 18k red gold or Grade 5 titanium. Domed sapphire crystal Dial 26 rollers (24 city rollers, 1 time period roller, 1 world time roller). Central 24-hour world time dial, additional New Delhi indication, additional minute hand Movement High-watchmaking self-winding movement (calibre R30-70-001). 33.50mm. 373 components. 28,800 vph/4 Hz frequency. 62-hour power reserve Functions Hours, minutes, world time on rollers, day/night indicator, additional minute hand Water Resistance 30m Strap Rubber.

Pascal Raffy likes to imagine what travel was like in the early nineteenth century, when Edouard Bovet was going from Fleurier, Switzerland, to London, England, and then on to Guangzhou, China. Travelling on foot, on horseback, by carriage and by boat, he was extraordinarily brave to venture so far from what he knew at the time.

This wonderful source of inspiration directly led to the development of innovative solutions: “I wanted to offer our collectors a wearable, very intuitive timepiece to guide them and for them to never forget where they are from and where they are going. Complicated yet simple to use, this timepiece is the result of the innovation, the outstanding attention to detail, the exceptional knowledge and the human touch of all our artisans.”

In the past, Bovet had already included celestial sky charts, equation of time displays, precision moon phases, reproductions of the night sky, sidereal time, solstices, and summer and winter equinoxes, just to name a few. Winner of the GPHG Mechanical Exception Prize in 2024, the Récital 28 Prowess 1 was preceded by ground-breaking timepieces such as the Récital 18 Rising Star, the Récital 20 Astérium (winner of the 2023 GPHG Calendar and Astronomy Prize), the Récital 22 Grand Récital (winner of the GPHG Aiguille d’Or Grand Prix in 2018), the Récital 26 Chapter One (first ever sapphire crystal case) and the Récital 26 Chapter Two (winner of the GPHG Mechanical Exception Prize in 2020).

Now, the Récital 30 joins this illustrious group, revolutionising terrestrial time and making the innovative, ground-breaking and award-winning world time roller system available in a smaller, daily wear timepiece.

The Daylight Saving Time challenge

Ever since Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced, world time watches have not been able to adapt to the vagaries of when DST starts and ends in different countries and which countries do not change (only about 70 countries use some form of DST).

Until the Récital 28, and now the Récital 30, during Daylight Saving Time, world time watches were either set for DST, so the rest of the world was wrong by one hour, or set for the majority of the world, meaning DST countries were off by one hour.

Thanks to its ingenious roller system, borrowed from the Récital 28, the Récital 30 can be adjusted to any of the four time periods of the year:

• UTC – Coordinated Universal Time
• AST - American Summer Time
• EAS - Europe and America Summer Time
• EWT - European Winter Time

All 24 world time zones, and New Delhi, will be accurate all year round.

The Récital 30 emphasises the essentials needed for keeping track of world time. The world time rollers cover nearly the entire dial, making it the clear focus of this timepiece. In the centre is a day/night indicator linked to the local time. As a result, the Récital 30 is the perfect companion for the world traveller.

The 26 rollers each have four positions, all controlled by the pushers on the right side of the case – UTC, AST, EAS, and EWT.

Pushing the top pusher rotates each roller 90 degrees, so all 24 time zones are set to each of the four time periods of the year. The bottom pusher advances the 24-hour world dial at the centre by one hour per push, making it extraordinarily simple to set the time for the entire world. 

The New Delhi challenge

The Récital 30 comes in two versions, both with New Delhi featured prominently on the dial. India has a 30-minute offset and Pascal Raffy came up with an idea to include this challenging time zone on the dial of both versions.

In the Universal Time version, New Delhi is in a separate colour on the dial (yellow in titanium, red in 18k red gold), and the second matching-colour minute hand is linked to New Delhi time (with its 30-minute offset).

The second version, designed for collectors living in India, links the main hour and minute hands to New Delhi time (again matching the colour of the New Delhi highlight on the dial), while the second minute hand (silver for titanium, gold for 18k red gold) is linked to the minutes for the rest of the world.

“India is a fast-growing country on the global stage, and I wanted to honour this exciting region in the Récital 30,” explains Pascal Raffy. “The collectors in India are very knowledgeable and demanding of true excellence, and I was proud to include this unique 30-minute offset: something that has rarely been done before.”

Thanks to its in-house capacities, the House is also uniquely open to customisation and bespoke: collectors can change the city names and choose from a number of different colours for the 24-hour dial and the minute track.

A new chapter with in-house cases

Innovation on the Récital 30 is not limited to its mechanism as, for the first time ever, Bovet is making its own cases in its facility in Tramelan: all titanium cases will be made in-house from the start, while the 18k red gold Récital 30 cases will be produced in the Tramelan manufacture starting in 2026. Both cases use a sapphire crystal exhibition back, a feature Bovet pioneered back in the 1800s as its movements were engraved and highly decorated.

For high watchmaking timepieces, in-house crafting ensures control over the very demanding quality requirements for the cases and other components. Hand-crafting the Récital 30 cases in-house means enhanced interaction between the technical office, the engineers, the production team and the watchmakers.

“I need to offer my artisans new challenges,” says Pascal Raffy. “At Bovet, we combine art and innovation, and we achieve the exceptional every day. The case is an exercise in design, integrating a domed sapphire crystal and shaped hands, recalling a window to the universe, while the timepiece itself has an undeniable vintage look and feel. I knew from the start that the case and overall design of the Récital 30 had to be exceptional, unexpected and have real meaning.”

Welcome to the beautiful life

The Récital 12 36mm is another shining example of Bovet’s take on wearability and everyday use. This feminine, vibrant version of the popular Récital 12 builds on the success of its 40mm predecessor, offering the same versatility in a smaller dimension.

“The beauty of the Récital 12 36mm lies not just in its appearance, but in its ability to adapt, to move seamlessly between chic and cool. Whether paired with a tailored suit or worn to complement a more casual ensemble, it transforms with the wearer, much like a scarf that effortlessly shifts from an accessory of opulence to a statement of bold individuality,” explains Audrey Raffy, Pascal Raffy’s daughter and a Vice President of the House.

RÉCITAL 12 36MM: Case Dimier case. 36mm diameter, 9.15mm thick. Stainless-steel case with sapphire crystal. Bezel set with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 1.08 cts) Dial Raspberry or turquoise lacquered guilloché, or white mother-of-pearl. Hour and minute hands form a heart once an hour Movement High-watchmaking self-winding movement (calibre 11BA15). 11½” diameter. 91 components including 25 jewels. 28,800 vph/4 Hz frequency. 42-hour power reserve Functions Hours, minutes Water Resistance 30m Strap Interchangeable steel bracelet/alligator strap.

Last year, for the very first time, Bovet unveiled a timepiece presented on a metal bracelet with the Récital 12. The Dimier case, combined with its fully integrated bracelet, offers seamless comfort, making this the House’s first truly everyday timepiece. The clasp, featuring Bovet’s signature “V,” fastens to form an infinity symbol.

The Récital 12 also introduced the “Welcome to the Good Life” concept – a philosophy of refined living, where elegance meets ease. The Récital 12 36mm is a new take on this philosophy: “Welcome to the Beautiful Life.” The timepiece presents a stainless-steel case adorned with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling more than one full carat.

The guilloché case back is inspired by a heritage pocket watch, safely conserved in Bovet’s museum at the fourteenth-century Château de Môtiers. For added versatility, an interchangeable strap system allows the Récital 12 36mm to shift naturally from the cool shimmer of steel to the soft sophistication of alligator leather.

A canvas of colours

The Récital 12 36mm dials are available with turquoise or raspberry lacquered guilloché. Additionally, the timepiece can be chosen with a white mother-of-pearl dial. The “fleur de lotus” guilloché pattern on the dial honours Bovet’s heritage – the Lotus Flower being a symbol of the brand since its foundation. Its 12 petals symbolise the 12 hours of day and night.

The hands indicating the hours and the minutes feature a Bovet poetic detail—when they come together, once every hour, the tips form an endearing little heart. Powered by a high-watchmaking automatic movement, the new Récital 12 36mm caters to collectors who prefer a smaller size while still coveting Bovet’s renowned attention to detail.

“The introduction of the Récital 12 36mm demonstrates our commitment to meeting the diverse needs of our collectors,” says Pascal Raffy. “We’ve hand-crafted a timepiece that appeals to a broader range of wrist sizes and style preferences. It is a new his and hers timepiece, designed to be worn both by men and women in a world where versatility has become a cherished practice.” Everyday life the Bovet way.