Bovet likes to keep a cool thing going, including multiple versions of its intriguing and popular Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter Two watch. This is also an example of a wristwatch name taxonomy going a bit haywire. The Bovet Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter One from 2019 has a totally different movement but started the interesting sapphire case construction trend for Bovet’s slanted “writing desk-style” Recital cases. Then, a few months later in 2019, the Bovet Recital 27 watch was announced, and it was a return to form for Recital-style cases. That led Bovet to come out with a sort of Recital 26.5 watch in 2020that it simply called the Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2. This purple and sapphire version of the Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 (which we saw while meeting with Bovet at Dubai Watch Week 2023) is at least the fourth version of this model we have covered. Most recently, in 2020, we discussed the Bovet Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 Sunshine Collection.
What makes this particular Recital 24 Brainstorm Chapter 2 luxury timepiece platform so interesting to Bovet, a boutique high-end Swiss watchmaker that only produces about 800 watches per year? I think the overworked case with the three-dimensional movement that has indicators built on it is part of the appeal. For those who like small, functional, mechanical (and expensive) sculptures on their wrists, Bovet makes something to add to your list with a timepiece like this. Whatever you think about it, you cannot deny that the Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 offers a thrilling visual experience.
Which complications has Bovet been able to include in the in-house caliber 17DM06-DT manually wound movement? The movement has the time via subsidiary dial, flying “double-sided” tourbillon, worldtime with city selector, moonphase indicator, and power reserve indicator. Speaking of the power reserve indicator, I missed taking a clear picture of the side-mounted linear power reserve gauge, but for a good image of it, I encourage you to view this previous aBlogtoWatch article about a blue and sapphire version of the Bovet Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 watch. The stunningly design and decorated movement operates at 3Hz with five days of power reserve. The “hammered” engraving on the skeletonized bridges is an interesting decorative choice and perhaps was Bovet’s artistic way of suggesting cranial gray matter.
The purple face behind the dial for the hours and minutes is made from a piece of purple-colored quartz crystal. The other purple elements appear to be colored metal. While the purpose of the movement isn’t exactly to be practical, it is very interesting to look at and the three dome-style indicators are fun and offer Bovet a very distinctive brand aesthetic. “Swiss Handcrafted” is printed proportionally large on the dial, which appears to be Bovet’s way of saying, “We are even better than Swiss Made.” That may be so, but the label on the dial looks a bit out of place and seems to be more suited to gourmet food or candle packaging. Such a conspicuous advertising of merit on the dial is a signal to competitors more so than watch wearers. I think brands need to keep their war of words off watch dials.
Bovet reminds us that sapphire crystal is lighter than titanium. That means despite the 47.8mm-wide girth of the Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 case, it still wears nicely. Much of the case interior is hollow by design, which further adds to the lightness of the wearing experience – but mind you this isn’t a tiny timepiece. The sapphire crystal case construction will keep it scratch-free, but be mindful not to drop it. The metal bits of the case and strap are in either titanium or 18k white gold. The Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter 2 case is water resistant to 30 meters.
It can be a lot of fun to wear a wristwatch like this from Bovet. These high-end and complicated Recital pieces certainly make excellent conversation starters, and they wear like any of today’s exotic ultra-watches (those priced for the very privileged few), only with a bold flair to them that reminds me of the aesthetic from extinct (and near-extinct) Eastern empires. Bovet is also much more provocative and playful than many of its stuffier colleagues, which speaks to its brand appeal. Yet, despite the diamonds it can offer decorated on many of its watches (this product is sans diamonds, of course), the Bovet brand feels decidedly more vintage-ruler and aristocratic than a Jacob & Co. As a limited edition of seven pieces, price for the Bovet Recital 26 Brainstorm Chapter Two Purple & Sapphire watch is USD 453,000. Learn more at the Bovet website.
