The Secret Life of Time Told Through Malachite and Tiger’s Eye

From the dawn of civilisation, stone has been revered as a symbol of permanence, strength and the passage of time. In the world of fine watchmaking, its use on the dial is a philosophical statement, a celebration of nature’s artistry and the eternal connection between earth and time itself.

This year, for the very first time in its two-hundred-year history, BOVET introduces semi-precious stone dials to its Récital 12 collection.

Malachite and Tiger’s Eye now grace the timepiece, which also represents another first for the House: the debut of a bracelet.

In doing so, BOVET offers not simply a new interpretation of the Récital 12, but an entirely fresh chapter in its story.

Malachite captivates with its rich, green tones, animated by naturally occurring bands and concentric patterns that can never be replicated.

For Pascal Raffy, owner of the House, these vivid shades call to mind the forests that cloak the Jura Mountains around BOVET’s castle, a landscape that continues to inspire.

The stone has been treasured for millennia, from Egyptian jewellery and pigments to its reputation as a “Stone of Transformation.”

In horology, it presents both allure and challenge. Ultra-thin slices must be cut, stabilised with a discreet backing and polished to perfection, all without compromising its delicate structure.

The result is a dial that fuses geological history with human mastery, each one as unique as a fingerprint.

Where Malachite reflects stillness and depth, Tiger’s Eye radiates energy. Its golden-brown tones shimmer with an effect known as chatoyancy, a moving band of light that dances across the dial as the wrist tilts.

This hypnotic quality, impossible to imitate, ensures that no two dials are ever alike.

Each dial reveals its own flow of colours, shifting from dark espresso tones to warm honey gold. Throughout history, Tiger’s Eye has been worn as a talisman of courage and clarity, believed to focus the mind and ward off misfortune.

In a timepiece, it carries a similar power; grounding yet luminous, understated yet striking.

The 40mm titanium case, crafted from Grade 5 titanium, is featherlight on the wrist, making the Récital 12 a watch to wear daily, not just on special occasions.

Its bracelet is a triumph of design in its own right. With a folding clasp that discreetly adjusts up to 3mm, it responds fluidly to the natural changes in wrist size throughout the day.

The alternation of polished and satin finishes, accented by the House’s signature V, brings visual harmony, while the clasp itself closes to form an infinity symbol; a quiet reminder of timelessness.

Beneath the natural stone dials lies a movement that reveals itself in elegant detail. Inverting the calibre allows BOVET to showcase its in-house balance wheel, regulating organ and gear train.

A running seconds display, animated by three fire-blued hands, adds a delicate rhythm. Power is delivered through a single barrel that offers a seven-day reserve, far surpassing the conventional 36 to 48 hours of most watches.

With more than 95 per cent of its components produced internally, including the hairspring, this is a movement that embodies independence and integrity.

The Récital 12 with Malachite and Tiger’s Eye dials is a meditation on time, nature and craftsmanship. Each dial, shaped by geological history and refined by human artistry, is unique.

Limited to only 60 pieces in each stone, these editions embody rarity in its most authentic form.

In bringing together technical excellence, natural beauty and everyday wearability, BOVET has created not only a timepiece, but a work of art that transforms every glance at the wrist into a quiet contemplation of time itself.