The Récital 30 is Bovet’s simpler, not-so-simple solution to tracking changing time zones
Borna Bošnjak- The Récital 30 eschews the flying tourbillon and perpetual calendar of the Récital 28, but loses none of the travel time functionality.
- It sports 24 city rollers on the dial, adjusted by a case pusher to instantly coordinate them with UTC, AST, EAS, and EWT.
- Compared to the ultra-complicated Récital 28, the Récital 30 starts at CHF 68,000.
Watches made specifically for travelling are nothing new, whether we’re talking about GMTs, dual time zones, or worldtimers. But among making highly ornate, hand-crafted pieces, Bovet has made it their mission to create a watch that would trump all of those with its multi-city timing functionality, as it would be easily synchronised for different daylight saving periods. That’s how the Récital 28 Prowess 1 came about, resulting in a GPHG Mechanical Exception Prize in 2024. But with its insane price tag and proportions, it was hardly a watch that solved the problem of a comfortable daily wearer despite its unique function. That’s where the Bovet Récital 30 comes in, reduced to just the base worldtime complication, and dropping numerous millimetres in diameter and thickness in the process.
Looking at the dial though, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is no simple watch – and you’d be right. Despite losing a perpetual calendar and tourbillon, the Récital 30 is no slouch when it comes to complexity. Here’s how to read it. The central handset is linked to your local time with the help of the day/night indicator above the Bovet name, while the inner, 24-hour ring corresponds to the 24 city rollers surrounding it. You’ll also notice a large, coloured (yellow, in the case above) central hand. This is Bovet’s way of showing the time in New Delhi, given the city’s notorious 30-minute offset, the same reason why you see its name highlighted on the minutes track.
In fact, Bovet is so dedicated to make telling the time in multiple cities easier that the Récital 30 will also be available in an Indian variant that uses Delhi time for the main handset, and uses the additional minutes hand for world time. If you ever come across a Récital 30 in the wild, check to see whether the main handset is red or yellow instead of silver – that would indicate an India version versus a Universal version.
All of these functions are powered by the in-house calibre R30-70-001. Despite the Récital 30 sporting a sapphire caseback, all you’ll be able to see is a full-size winding rotor. I’ll be honest, I’m a little surprised by this decision. While I assume this was done because the architecture of the calibre doesn’t lend itself to the most beautiful caseback display, Bovet is more than capable of stunning finishing as we’ve seen in the past, so it saddens me a little they didn’t at least give it a go. On-paper though, the R30-70-001 holds up just fine, with a 4Hz beat rate and 62-hour power reserve.
The main improvement for the new Récital 30 over its bigger cousin, the Récital 28, is its wearability. With a 42mm x 12.9mm case, there are actual people that’ll be able to wear this watch daily as an actual daily, and not just a statement piece. As a reminder, the Récital 28 came in at 46.3mm x 17.85mm. And the case itself is quite beautiful, too. Made in either red gold or grade 5 titanium, its rounded shape is highlighted by the highly domed sapphire crystal, while the pushers elegantly integrate into its flanks. A detail I find particularly nice is the cut-away at the top of each lug, reducing the visual bulk of the watch. And finally, though the watches are supplied on blue rubber or fabric straps that could certainly handle getting wet, the 30-metre water resistance may stop you from doing that. In any case, it’s enough protection for daily wear, and expected from such a complicated piece.
Bovet Récital 30 price and availability
The Bovet Récital 30 is now available, with the red gold model limited to 30 pieces for 2025. Price: CHF 68,000 (titanium), CHF 96,800 (red gold)
| Brand | Bovet |
| Model | Récital 30 |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) |
| Case material | 18k red gold Grade 5 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Domed sapphire front, sapphire back |
| Dial | Black and white, PVD city rollers |
| Bracelet | Blue rubber or fabric strap, fitted spring bars |
| Movement | R30-70-001, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 62 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, world time, 24-hour indicator, additional minutes hand |
| Availability | Now available, 30 red gold pieces for 2025 |
| Price | CHF 68,000 (titanium) CHF 96,800 (red gold) |