The Bovet Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon “paints the dragon and dots the eyes”
Fergus Nash- Bovet are celebrating the Chinese New Year with the Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon.
- Its 18k red gold sculpture takes 40-50 hours to hand-carve.
- The hand-winding movement provides 5 days of power supply for the time, world timer, moonphase, and double-sided flying tourbillon.
We’re quickly coming up to the Chinese New Year, and Bovet aren’t one to waste the opportunity for a celebratory release. In fact, no stone remains unturned in their quest for ever-increasing extravagance, and their long history in China provides an even greater incentive to go large. The Bovet Bovet Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon is truly a demonstration of their capabilities in the haute-luxury sector, encompassing both artisanal and engineering excellence.
When the Chinese New Year ticks over in February 2024, we’ll be entering the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac. The dragon holds a special significance, not only because it’s a cultural symbol of China, but also because it’s the only mythological creature to be included in the zodiac. The golden dragon specifically is favoured for its symbolism of luck, success, and strength. Coiling around the openworked dial of the Bovet Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon, the hand-carved sculpture of the dragon is made from 18k red gold with plenty of finesse, polishing the highlights such as the whiskers and mane while giving the scaled body rich texture.
Although there isn’t exactly a ‘dial’ on this watch, blue is used as an overarching complimentary colour to the red gold. A miniature domed dial for the hours and minutes is made of blue quartz and sits above the dragon. Below the dragon, you can peek into the blue cover of the moonphase indicator, and the blue world time complication makes it simple to comprehend time in other countries. The way the dial has been arranged really pulls you into its depths, but that’s also thanks to the profile of the ‘writing desk’ sloped case. It’s thicker at the top with a gradual reduction, allowing for an easier viewing angle when your wrist is resting in front of you. It does make the watch relatively chunky, but the 46.5mm diameter should prepare you for quite a chunky watch.
Given the immensely decorative dial, you can understand why the Bovet Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon is one of the few modern tourbillon-powered watches that doesn’t show it off on the dial, although you can somewhat sneak a peek at it through the dragon’s curves. Instead, you have to flip the watch over to its enormous sapphire caseback and be blown away by the intricate engraving. All of the bridges are bursting with detail, leading the eye downwards to the tourbillon. If you view the watch from 12 o’clock, you can also see a window into a power indicator, covering the movement’s 5-day reserve. Despite its 443 components, the calibre 17DM06-DT is arranged with incredible elegance.
The Bovet Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon pricing and availability
The Bovet Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon’s production is limited by nature, as Bovet will only be able to produce 1-2 models per month. Price: On request
| Brand | Bovet |
| Model | Récital 26 Chapter 2 Golden Dragon |
| Reference Number | NA |
| Case Dimensions | 46.5mm (D) |
| Case Material | 18k Red gold |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Dial | Openworked with blue quartz subdial |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Strap | Blue alligator leather |
| Movement | 17DM06-DT |
| Power Reserve | 5 days |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, flying tourbillon, power reserve, moonphase, world timer |
| Availability | Limited to 1-2 pieces per month |
| Price | POA |