The BOVET Recital 26 Chapter Two Golden Dragon, The Revered Timepiece
The ancient Chinese saying, “Paint the Dragon, Dot the Eyes” (畫龍點睛), symbolizes the pursuit of perfection. In the creation of the Recital 26 Chapter Two Dragon, BOVET’s skilled artisans have exerted their utmost effort to bring to life this artistic masterpiece, seamlessly integrating it into the realm of high horology.
The Golden Dragon – At the core of Chinese mythology, the golden or yellow dragon holds immense significance, embodying power, nobility, honor, luck, and success in the traditional cultural context. In addition to these attributes, there is a belief that this revered dragon possesses the ability to control time—a fitting connection for a timepiece designed to display all 24 time zones worldwide. As the fifth animal in the zodiac cycle, the dragon is regarded as wise and powerful where it becomes a symbol of courage, confidence, and adventurous spirit, embodying success and ambition. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to share these attributes, and notable figures born under this zodiac sign include influential individuals such as Bruce Lee, Martin Luther King Jr., and Keanu Reeves.
Displaying The Dragon – Incorporating a solid 18K gold dragon into the acclaimed Recital 26 Chapter Two by BOVET was indeed a challenge. While the writing desk case offered ample volume, the dragon’s placement was intricately limited to the available space between the various complications — the domed Hour and Minute Dial, the World Time Hemispheric Dial featuring an indexable city indicator, the Mother-of-Pearl Moon Phase, and the patented BOVET flying tourbillon.
The process began with BOVET’s Technical Office delineating the specific space allocated for the dragon. Subsequently, a skilled sculptor was engaged to craft the head and body of the solid gold dragon. After the sculpture was cast, it transitioned to the proficient hands of BOVET’s in-house hand-engravers. Here, meticulous details such as eyes, scales, claws, and whiskers were intricately added, demanding a painstaking 40 to 50 hours of precision. To complete the masterpiece, a fiery red ruby was set into the dragon’s eye, and the entire sculpture was meticulously assembled within and around the movement. The outcome is nothing short of a horological masterpiece, a timepiece artfully housing a genuine hand-engraved sculpture that reflects the fusion of technical prowess and artistic craftsmanship.
“For me, the Dragon is the most amazing symbol, representing wisdom, power, kindness, hope, and a bright future,” says Mr. Pascal Raffy, the owner of BOVET 1822. “The Writing Desk case of the Recital 26 Chapter Two is the perfect exhibition space for the hand-engraved Golden Dragon sculpture, as well as our high watchmaking expertise. With this timepiece, we celebrate 2024 as the Year of the Dragon.”
The Recital 26 Chapter Two Movement – The Récital 26 Brainstorm® Chapter Two, encased entirely in sapphire crystal, made its debut and earned the Mechanical Exception Award at the GPHG (watchmaking Oscars) in 2020. This exceptional timepiece boasts Bovet’s patented double-sided flying tourbillon, an indexable second-time zone indicator featuring a twenty-four-city disc, a moon phase display, and an impressive 5 days of power reserve. In 2022, an 18K red gold version of the timepiece was introduced.
Crafted entirely in the BOVET 1822 workshops, the caliber designed for the Brainstorm Chapter Two ensures optimal performance for a multi-time zone timepiece. BOVET’s mastery over energy control guarantees a substantial five days of power reserve from a single barrel, operating at a frequency of 21,600 v/h for remarkable chronometry.
The BOVET Recital 26 Chapter Two Golden Dragon, The Revered Timepiece
The ancient Chinese saying, “Paint the Dragon, Dot the Eyes” (畫龍點睛), symbolizes the pursuit of perfection. In the creation of the Recital 26 Chapter Two Dragon, BOVET’s skilled artisans have exerted their utmost effort to bring to life this artistic masterpiece, seamlessly integrating it into the realm of high horology.
The Golden Dragon – At the core of Chinese mythology, the golden or yellow dragon holds immense significance, embodying power, nobility, honor, luck, and success in the traditional cultural context. In addition to these attributes, there is a belief that this revered dragon possesses the ability to control time—a fitting connection for a timepiece designed to display all 24 time zones worldwide. As the fifth animal in the zodiac cycle, the dragon is regarded as wise and powerful where it becomes a symbol of courage, confidence, and adventurous spirit, embodying success and ambition. Those born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to share these attributes, and notable figures born under this zodiac sign include influential individuals such as Bruce Lee, Martin Luther King Jr., and Keanu Reeves.
Displaying The Dragon – Incorporating a solid 18K gold dragon into the acclaimed Recital 26 Chapter Two by BOVET was indeed a challenge. While the writing desk case offered ample volume, the dragon’s placement was intricately limited to the available space between the various complications — the domed Hour and Minute Dial, the World Time Hemispheric Dial featuring an indexable city indicator, the Mother-of-Pearl Moon Phase, and the patented BOVET flying tourbillon.
The process began with BOVET’s Technical Office delineating the specific space allocated for the dragon. Subsequently, a skilled sculptor was engaged to craft the head and body of the solid gold dragon. After the sculpture was cast, it transitioned to the proficient hands of BOVET’s in-house hand-engravers. Here, meticulous details such as eyes, scales, claws, and whiskers were intricately added, demanding a painstaking 40 to 50 hours of precision. To complete the masterpiece, a fiery red ruby was set into the dragon’s eye, and the entire sculpture was meticulously assembled within and around the movement. The outcome is nothing short of a horological masterpiece, a timepiece artfully housing a genuine hand-engraved sculpture that reflects the fusion of technical prowess and artistic craftsmanship.
“For me, the Dragon is the most amazing symbol, representing wisdom, power, kindness, hope, and a bright future,” says Mr. Pascal Raffy, the owner of BOVET 1822. “The Writing Desk case of the Recital 26 Chapter Two is the perfect exhibition space for the hand-engraved Golden Dragon sculpture, as well as our high watchmaking expertise. With this timepiece, we celebrate 2024 as the Year of the Dragon.”
The Recital 26 Chapter Two Movement – The Récital 26 Brainstorm® Chapter Two, encased entirely in sapphire crystal, made its debut and earned the Mechanical Exception Award at the GPHG (watchmaking Oscars) in 2020. This exceptional timepiece boasts Bovet’s patented double-sided flying tourbillon, an indexable second-time zone indicator featuring a twenty-four-city disc, a moon phase display, and an impressive 5 days of power reserve. In 2022, an 18K red gold version of the timepiece was introduced.
Crafted entirely in the BOVET 1822 workshops, the caliber designed for the Brainstorm Chapter Two ensures optimal performance for a multi-time zone timepiece. BOVET’s mastery over energy control guarantees a substantial five days of power reserve from a single barrel, operating at a frequency of 21,600 v/h for remarkable chronometry.
The upper section of the case features a domed blue quartz dial presenting local time hours and minutes. At 3 o’clock, another dome displays a second time zone, a unique feature patented by BOVET. The dome, completing a full revolution in 24 hours, showcases city names representing each of the 24 time zones. A distinctive three-dimensional V-shaped hand facilitates the selection of the displayed time zone. Beyond the second time zone, this innovative feature also incorporates the world time function, enabling simultaneous reading of the time across all 24 time zones.
The upper section of the case features a domed blue quartz dial presenting local time hours and minutes. At 3 o’clock, another dome displays a second time zone, a unique feature patented by BOVET. The dome, completing a full revolution in 24 hours, showcases city names representing each of the 24 time zones. A distinctive three-dimensional V-shaped hand facilitates the selection of the displayed time zone. Beyond the second time zone, this innovative feature also incorporates the world time function, enabling simultaneous reading of the time across all 24 time zones.
The rotation of the second time zone dome is facilitated by the patented Radial Guidance System. This mechanism employs three rubies-adjustable rollers, regulated by a micrometric screw, strategically positioned on the circumference. These rollers ensure precise centering, minimize friction, and contribute to enhanced chronometry and power reserve in this exceptional timepiece. With exquisite symmetry, the Mother-of-Pearl moon phase graces the 9 o’clock position, artfully revealed through the coiled lower body of the Dragon. Simultaneously, the Dragon’s head and upper body find their place atop the flying tourbillon. The remarkable five-day autonomy of this amalgamation of high complications is elegantly showcased by a linear indicator, discreetly positioned within a window between the two strap lugs at 12 o’clock.
The production of the Recital 26 Chapter Two Dragon is an exclusive endeavor, limited to only 12 pieces. In the words of author George R.R. Martin, “Not all men are meant to dance with dragons.” Interested individuals can contact the Swiss Watch boutique at Pavilion KL to learn more about BOVET’s exceptional timepieces.
The rotation of the second time zone dome is facilitated by the patented Radial Guidance System. This mechanism employs three rubies-adjustable rollers, regulated by a micrometric screw, strategically positioned on the circumference. These rollers ensure precise centering, minimize friction, and contribute to enhanced chronometry and power reserve in this exceptional timepiece. With exquisite symmetry, the Mother-of-Pearl moon phase graces the 9 o’clock position, artfully revealed through the coiled lower body of the Dragon. Simultaneously, the Dragon’s head and upper body find their place atop the flying tourbillon. The remarkable five-day autonomy of this amalgamation of high complications is elegantly showcased by a linear indicator, discreetly positioned within a window between the two strap lugs at 12 o’clock.
The production of the Recital 26 Chapter Two Dragon is an exclusive endeavor, limited to only 12 pieces. In the words of author George R.R. Martin, “Not all men are meant to dance with dragons.” Interested individuals can contact the Swiss Watch boutique at Pavilion KL to learn more about BOVET’s exceptional timepieces.
