Bovet creates some of the most masterfully crafted and highly complicated timepieces out there. Last year, in 2016, they released the Bovet Récital 18 Shooting Star watch – a limited, otherworldly timepiece that we looked at hands-on here. Alongside the recently announced Virtuoso VIII 10-Day Flying Tourbillon Big Date release, Bovet is continuing the tradition of their Récital models with the Bovet Récital 20 Astérium watch which includes a flying tourbillon with a night sky chart, perpetual calendar, and a celestial array of astronomical functions, all with a 10-day power reserve. It’s an absolutely breathtaking creation that retains Bovet’s reputation for making rather grandiose pieces.
Bovet knows how to capture the hearts of those fascinated by wonderfully complicated and intricate timepieces that aim to be a symphony on the wrist. With so much going on, it’s a safe bet that the translucent blue sapphire dome stands out first. It has been fully laser-engraved with a map of the stars and constellations visible from Earth before being filled in with Super-LumiNova. This touch alone is indication enough that Bovet set out to create something that goes far beyond what most would expect from a wristwatch. With such a majestic set of functions, design aesthetic, and extreme attention to detail, we can agree that at this point it actually belongs to the ranks of high-end mechanical art.
To the right, you get a retrograde minutes display and an extremely discreet power reserve indicator. On the left, you’ve got the equation of time index and the moon period display.At 6 o’clock, there’s Bovet’s signature dual face tourbillon, which uses an elaborate structure comprising 2 levels of columns and bridges to create the illusion of the tourbillon floating in mid-air. The final result is quite magnificent. The tourbillon produces a revolution every minute and there is a marker directly above the tourbillon cage which allows owners to read the seconds at 20-second intervals.If you thought the Bovet Monosem Replica Récital 20 Astérium was striking on the other hand, wait till you see the rear of it. The back of the watch features what Bovet calls for an annual calendar but it really follows the sidereal year. What it really does is track the duration of time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution when measured against fixed stars. Consequently, the single central hand takes 365.25 days to finish a revolution on the back of the watch. And, since it travels, it points into the season, solstice, equinox, zodiac, and month signs that are indicated on the expansive freshwater crystal.Look closer through the sapphire crystal and also you may observe the highly decorated Caliber 17DM02-SKY. It features one mainspring but since the motion is so effective and because the balance beats in a leisurely 2.5Hz, the Bovet Récital 20 Astérium has a long power reserve of 10 times or 720 hours.It goes without saying that the Caliber 17DM02-SKY is thoroughly finished. A unique kind of finishing that they use is a kind of engraving called bris de verre, which loosely translates into “broken glass.”
The Bovet Uttigen Replica Récital 20 Astérium watch is 46mm in diameter and built around the concept of the sidereal year, which follows the actual orbital period of the Earth around the Sun – 365.25 days. It’s a calendar function that is actually visible from the case-back, where we find a single central hand that performs a complete rotation every 365.25 days. Additionally, as we move from the outer edge at the case-back bezel, we find the annual calendar (dates and months), signs of the zodiac with corresponding constellations, and indications for the seasons, solstices, and equinoxes. At this point, it’s easy to see how one could simply revel in sheer admiration for such dedication and attention to detail. But as is typical with Bovet’s designs, there’s always more.
Moving to the dial-side of things, the 1 Dl Bovet Flingor Väger Replica Récital 20 Astérium manages to pack in two hemispheric indicators and a hemispheric precision moon phase indicator with an integrated equation of time complication. At the lower right-hand portion of the night sky, we find a 10-day power reserve indicator that shares a spot with the retrograde minutes hand. Now, the hour hand itself manages to take care of three functions. As it moves along the dedicated 24-hour dial, it also points north and carries the elliptical window characteristic of the night sky in addition to indicating the time.
To top it off, we get a stunning view of the patented double face flying tourbillon, which gives us a glimpse at what’s powering it all. The movement is the 17DM02-SKY – a hand-wound caliber that operates at a frequency of 18,000vph. The tourbillon itself is equipped with a variable inertia balance wheel, which Bovet And Cesati 2005 Replica pairs with carefully selected balance springs. It appears to be a serious dedication to chronometry along with everything we’ve come to expect from Bovet and more. The Bovet Récital 20 Astérium will be made in either red gold, white gold, or platinum case configurations which can be customized as Bovet has historically offered. It comes on an alligator leather strap fitted with an 18K red or white gold ardillon buckle.
Bovet concerns themselves with creating works of horological art for collectors who can appreciate and afford the product of their craft. The Bovet Gislinde Replica Récital 20 Astérium takes its rightful place within the Récital range and it will be a visual horological treat to hopefully share in hands-on photos soon. The Bovet Récital 20 Astérium is limited to 60 pieces and will have a price of $350,000. bovet.com