Bovet Récital 26 Brainstorm Chapter Two Sunshine Collection

Bovet releases the second iteration of its Récital 26 Brainstorm Chapter Two with a splash of vibrant yellow accents. Although a Bovet watch will rarely go unnoticed, this zesty yellow model will magnetise the attention of everybody standing in the same room as its wearer. Limited to seven pieces, the Sunshine Collection is packed with horological surprises that can be viewed from any angle inside the sapphire crystal case.

Let the sunshine in

One of the most striking architectural features of the watch is its sloping case, a design inspired by the sloping angle found on antique writing desks. With its pronounced inclination – thicker at the top and tapering towards the bottom –  the sloping case proved to be an ideal habitat for the complex 3D machinery behind Bovet’s astronomical pieces. In 2019, owner Pascal Raffy reimagined the sloping case in sapphire crystal for the Récital 26 Brainstorm Chapter One with tourbillon and moon phase complications.

The latest Brainstorm Chapter Two Sunshine Collection is equipped with the same horological complications as the first Chapter Two blue version: double-face flying tourbillon, precision moon phase indicator, second time zone with world time, and power reserve indicator. To showcase the complications and the impeccable hand finishings for which Bovet is renowned, the case is also made from sapphire crystal. Its vital statics are impressive measuring 47.8mm in diameter with a thickness of 15.5mm at its highest point. The second hardest material after diamond, sapphire crystal is lighter than titanium, which has been used to craft the lugs and the ring on the caseback.

Layout

The basic configuration of the complications on the dial is as follows: the domed lemon-coloured disc at noon relays the hours and minutes (local time in travel mode); the seconds are indicated on the 60-second tourbillon at 6 o’clock; the rotating dome at 9 o’clock corresponds to the phases of the Moon, and the dome at 3 o’clock displays a second time zone.

Although it might look like a second time zone (GMT) function, the dome at 3 o’clock is, in fact, a world timer indexed to a second time zone. The names of 24 cities are inscribed on the rotating section of the dome at 3 o’clock, and a V-shaped yellow needle frames the selected city. For example, in the photos, Geneva has been selected, and the time is 11:00. Once the city has been selected, the world timer completes its adjustments (patented mechanism) and displays the time simultaneously in all the other 23 cities.

The dome at 9 o’clock rotates in sync with the lunar cycles and will only require a one-day correction every 122 years. However, being a Bovet creation, the age of the Moon is indicated in not one but both hemispheres simultaneously. An openworked figure-eight structure, picked out in yellow, glides over the hand-engraved lunar surface and highlights the portion of the Moon that is visible in either hemisphere.

Both rotating domes perform their revolutions thanks to a patented radial guidance system relying on mini ruby rollers adjustable by a micrometric screw. With a minimum of friction, the accuracy of the movement is increased, and the power reserve isn’t depleted.

A five-armed star, with a faceted sapphire in its centre, holds the double-sided flying tourbillon in place. The missing arm of the star corresponds to the pointer of the running seconds indicator. Just in case you missed it, the power reserve indicator is nestled at the top end of the case between the two lugs and relies on a yellow-tipped pointer travelling along a linear indicator.

Needless to say, the decoration is as important as the mechanics. One predominant motif is the ‘broken glass’ pattern hand-engraved on the base of the three domes.

Lume me up Dr. Raffy

The Chapter Two Sunshine literally shines by day and glows by night thanks to the creative use of Super-LumiNova. The yellow domed time dial is hand-coated with green Super-LumiNova that gives the dial its powdery, almost fuzzy finish and emits a vibrant green glow in the dark. The Moon also emits a cool green glow in the dark contrasting to the blue lume illuminating the starry night sky.

Movement

The Récital 26 Brainstorm Chapter Two runs on a manual-winding movement with double barrels for an impressive power reserve of five days. The reverse side reveals the golden openworked bridges with their beautiful ‘broken glass’ engravings that seem to hover like butterfly wings over the silver structure supporting the domes. Naturally, the double-sided tourbillon can also be appreciated on the caseback along with the propeller motif on top of the double-barrel and the gold chatons.

Limited to seven pieces and presented on a bright yellow rubber strap with an 18k white gold folding buckle, the Sunshine Collection retails for CHF 365,000.

For more information, please visit Bovet.