The astronomical Bovet Récital 22 Grand Récital continues the story of the Récital 18 Shooting Star (2016) and the Récital 20 Astérium (2017), all three conceived with the idea of creating world views as seen from the sky. And in a nice touch, it was the sky over Bovet’s home in the Château de Môtiers near Fleurier that was the inspiration for all three of these magnificent watches.
Having the world at your fingertips is one thing, but what if it really was just the world underneath your fingertips as a simple representation of a thing so large and complicated no single person could comprehend it all? Bovet Fleurier has a perfect answer: the Edouard Bovet Flying Tourbillon.
In January 2017, Bovet announced a new piece that got me excited, and when I finally saw it in the metal it gave me one of those brief moments of escape from the unrelenting march of time. That piece is the Récital 20 Astérium, and it combines a variety of unique and novel creations that give you plenty to think about from across the expanse of the universe.
Welcome to the 2016 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. In the Mechanical Exception category our panel is split, but one mechanically exceptional timepiece here did garner more votes than the others.
Our panel members choose their winners in the Tourbillon category of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie between the Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon, Bovet 1822’s Ottantasei Flying Tourbillon, Girard-Perregaux’s La Esmeralda Tourbillon, Louis Moinet’s Sideralis Evo, the Rudis Sylva RS 16 Harmonious Oscillator, and the De Bethune DB28T Kind of Blue Tourbillon.
Welcome to the 2016 edition of Quill & Pad’s early Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève predictions in which the team picks favorites and explains why. The watches pre-selected in the Ladies category are: Fabergé Lady Levity, Chopard L.U.C XP 35 mm Esprit de Fleurier Peony, Bovet 1822’s Blue Thistles, Audemars Piguet Millenary, Piaget’s Limelight Gala Milanese Bracelet and the Bulgari Serpenti Spiga.
I’ve been trying, but have not managed, to come up with a more diplomatic way of saying this, so I’ll just come out with it: up to now, I have not generally been a fan of Bovet 1822. So I was surprised by just how much I was impressed with the Ottantasei by Pininfarina and would be very happy to wear one daily. But there is one niggle that I just can’t shake off.
The Bovet Ottantasei Tourbillon is the brand’s sixth timepiece designed by Pininfarina, and the years of experience that the two brands now have working together shows. It truly is a sensational watch, but I will go into that in more detail at a later date because I’d like to focus here on Pininfarina, a name evoking mystical status among anyone interested in world-class design and sensational cars.
Since visiting the Bovet manufacture in Fleurier last year, I’ve developed a newfound love for the brand. And, yet, if you had asked me which one timepiece stood out and made me fall head over heels, I would have had a hard time giving you an immediate, concrete answer. That is, until I discovered the Récital 18 Shooting Star, an unusually elaborate and decorative world time watch.
The monkey is the ninth sign of the 12-year zodiac cycle. According to Chinese astrology, monkeys are quick-witted and innovative, but also mischievous. The sign’s lucky colors are white, gold, and blue – all colors featured on these interesting timepieces except that last one we present. Check out these artistic beauties!