The horological world witnessed something rather extraordinary in 2024 when the Récital 28 Prowess 1 became the first mechanical timekeeper to crack the Daylight Saving Time conundrum. Now, the Swiss manufacture has followed up with the Récital 30, a focused evolution that makes this groundbreaking technology available to a broader audience.
Where its predecessor was limited to just 60 movements due to production constraints, the new model opens access to the innovative world time system, though production remains deliberately constrained to 30 pieces annually. The company has essentially democratised their most significant technical achievement while maintaining exclusivity through scarcity.
Revolutionary roller technology meets practical application
The Récital 30 borrows the innovative roller mechanism from its bigger sibling, enabling accurate display of 25 global time zones across four distinct periods throughout the year. The system accounts for Coordinated Universal Time, American Summer Time, European and American Summer Time, and European Winter Time periods.
This addresses the fundamental flaw that has plagued world time watches since Daylight Saving Time was introduced. Traditional models were perpetually incorrect during DST periods, showing either the correct time for DST countries while the rest of the world was off by an hour, or vice versa. Only approximately 70 countries employ some form of DST, creating a horological nightmare that remained unsolved until now.
The operation proves refreshingly straightforward despite the complexity beneath. Each of the 26 rollers contains four positions, controlled by pushers positioned on the right side of the case. The top pusher rotates each roller 90 degrees, simultaneously setting all 24 time zones to the appropriate seasonal period. The bottom pusher advances the central 24-hour world dial by one hour increments, making global time setting remarkably simple.
New Delhi takes centre stage
Two distinct versions highlight New Delhi, acknowledging India’s unique 30-minute offset that poses particular challenges for world time displays. The first version features New Delhi in black with a colour-matched arrow indicator, while a corresponding minute hand tracks New Delhi time with its half-hour variance.
The second variant caters specifically to collectors based in India, linking the main hour and minute hands directly to New Delhi time. Pascal Raffy, who acquired the company in 2001, explains the reasoning: “India is a country growing fast on the global stage, and I wanted to honour this exciting region. The collectors there are very knowledgeable and demanding of true excellence.”
This attention to regional requirements demonstrates the manufacture’s commitment to practical functionality rather than mere mechanical showmanship. The inclusion of such a challenging time zone reflects genuine consideration for global users rather than traditional European-centric approaches.
Manufacturing brings everything under one roof
For the first time, the organisation is producing cases entirely in-house at their Tramelan facility. All titanium Récital 30 cases emerge from this location immediately, while 18K red gold versions will follow from 2026. Both incorporate sapphire crystal exhibition case backs, a feature the company pioneered in the 1800s.
This vertical integration allows enhanced interaction between technical teams, engineers, production staff and watchmakers. The approach reflects broader industry trends toward self-sufficiency while maintaining quality control over every component. Handcrafting cases in-house enables the level of precision required for high complications while supporting the company’s emphasis on artisanal manufacturing.
The design itself recalls vintage aesthetics through shaped hands and domed sapphire crystal, creating what Raffy describes as “a window to the universe.” The combination of technical innovation with classical styling positions the timepiece as both contemporary tool and timeless object.
Six years of development reaches fruition
The journey toward solving Daylight Saving Time began six years ago, building on the manufacture’s extensive experience with celestial complications and multiple time zone displays. Previous models included three-zone pieces honouring the company’s founding cities of Fleurier, London and Guangzhou, plus various world timers that established the technical foundation.
The Récital 30 represents the culmination of this research, offering what may be the most practical world time complication ever created. Rather than pursuing horological complexity for its own sake, the development focused on solving real problems faced by frequent travellers and global professionals.
With world time rollers dominating nearly the entire dial, the timepiece makes its purpose immediately clear. A central day/night indicator linked to local time completes the essential information, creating an instrument that prioritises function over decoration. The result transforms six years of development into something genuinely useful for modern global connectivity.