In 2016, BOVET 1822 presented the Récital 18 Shooting Star, which made headlines for its innovative time display. The Récital 20 Astérium seamlessly continues the tradition set by its illustrious predecessor, reprising the characteristic shaped case to present an unprecedented mechanical display that showcases the volumes and decoration of the timepiece.
Time is defined by the position of the stars in the sky. Based on this undeniable fact, the night sky was chosen to play the ‘starring’ role in this new exceptional timepiece.
BOVET Récital 20 Astérium
With this in mind, the BOVET 1822 technicians opted to map out the stars and constellations visible from the Earth on a dome of translucent blue sapphire, on which they are laser-engraved before being coated in Super-LumiNova to create a dazzling true-to life sky. To ensure utmost realism, the highest stars in the sky are depicted at the top of the dome while the lowest stars nearer the horizon appear on the periphery of the display aperture.
The watch is built around the concept of the sidereal year, which follows the actual orbital period of the Earth around the Sun – 365.25 days to reflect the real duration of one full terrestrial orbit. Thanks to this combination of display and horological exactitude, the instantaneous position of the stars in the sky is thus displayed with unrivalled precision.
BOVET Récital 20 Astérium
The lower left- and right-hand sections ofthe night sky overlook two double hemispheric indicators, while on the left, an hemispheric precision moon phase lingers above the equation of time indicator.
While complex ingenuity went into developing the Astérium, its mechanism and winding device are designed to be simple, intuitive and reliable, as can be seen by merely turning the timepiece over and looking through the transparent sapphire crystal covering the entire movement. It features a host of graduations linked to the astronomic indications through which a single central hand travels.
BOVET Récital 20 Astérium
This hand is driven directly by the annual calendar, and therefore performs a complete rotation once every 365.25 days. An annual calendar (dates and months) is graduated on the case-back bezel and serves to precisely regulate the night sky. The same hand also travels along a graduation indicating the signs of the zodiac, symbolized by the constellations in front of which the sun appears throughout the year – hence the delicately hand-engraved sun that is riveted to the part of the hand that passes over this section. The seasons are also indicated further inside the timepiece, as are the solstices and equinoxes. As for the night sky, two back dials are available, respectively indexed to the night sky of the northern and southern hemispheres.
BOVET Récital 20 Astérium
Much more than just a new timepiece, the Récital 20 Astérium tourbillon symbolizes the universal and eternal message of time and space, and the fascinating choreography of their celestial ballet.
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.
