Characterised by a luxurious blend of complex mechanisms, precious stones, and supreme craftsmanship, the Bovet Récital 23 Turquoise Red Gold edition ladies watch represents this company’s flair for design finesse and its commitment to the art of Haute Horlogerie. For this edition, exquisite turquoise guilloché shares dial space with an equally stunning three-dimensional rendition of the moon phase, setting the scene for a façade of unparalleled beauty.

A truly captivating timepiece, the Récital 23 Turquoise is housed within an oval case of 18ct. red gold, in the ‘writing slope’ form, which is synonymous with Bovet. Perfectly proportioned at 43mm in length, and 38.7mm across, it tapers gently in a wedge-like profile, so that the display is poised at an incline towards the wearer’s eye. An array of brilliant-cut white diamonds adorn the case and bezel and in a final flourish of luxury, its decorative crown has been enhanced with a precious stone cabochon.

Beneath the subtly domed sapphire crystal, the face of the Récital 23 Turquoise rises up in agreement with the tapering case profile, to accommodate the extraordinary three-dimensional displays for the time and  the lunar cycle. A dial of intense turquoise guilloché, which has been set with ten diamond hour markers, shimmers as it catches and plays with the light. The hour and minutes hands have a shapely, ornate form, and for a few minutes each hour, as the minute hand approaches the hour hand, the two combine creating the shape of a heart, in an utterly beguiling little detail.

A rising arc on either side of the off-centre dial holds aloft a circular aperture at the midpoint, separating the dial and the domed moon disc which rotates beneath. Depicting the surface of the moon, the engraved disc has a luminous coating, with highly polished relief detailing and through the ring, the moonphase is displayed via a pair of starry plates which replicate the outline of the visible moon. With a corrector integrated onto the crown cabochon, the moon phase is easily adjusted, although so precise is the in-house module that if the watch were to be kept running continuously, a correction of just one single day would be required once in every 122 years.

Surrounding the displays, the surface of the dial plate has been finished with a spectacular “bris de verrre” decoration, and off to the left a beautiful shooting star complements the star shaped gear opposite, which is visible through the partially open worked dial, offering a glimpse of the movement within.

A sapphire caseback reveals the self winding Calibre 11DA17-MP and its solid 22ct. gold oscillating weight which has a deeply engraved ‘Fleurisanne’ motif. Here again, the finishing throughout is impeccable, and from its two barrels it delivers a minimum of 62 hours power reserve, beating at a lively 28’800 vib/h.

Bringing together an exquisite métiers d’art guilloché dial in an exciting new colour and a gorgeous example of a moon phase, the Bovet Récital 23 Turquoise Red Gold edition truly is an endearing proposition. The piece comes presented on a full skin alligator leather strap secured with an 18ct. red gold ardillon buckle and with a strictly limited release of just 60 pieces in this dial variation, the wearer will have the added advantage and reassurance of exclusivity.