IN A DIVA’S GARDEN  

The Roman jeweller and watchmaker invites you to take a stroll in a luxuriant, colourful garden through these two precious, limited-edition watches – only 50 of each have been made

Bvlgari’s new creations show a real miniature Garden of Eden, inspired by both Roman and Asiatic cultures. They showcase three supreme talents above all: that of watchmaker, jeweller and artist. In fact, the two Divas’ Dream Tourbillon Skeleton pieces, as much like jewels as they are like watches, are an ode to creativity and to a craftsman’s skill. The fan-shape of the lugs on the 37mm-diameter case combines with the flamboyant colours of the painting and enamel present on the dial, all illuminated by the resplendent blaze of the diamonds, to give life to the imaginary flora and fauna.

These two Divas’ Dream Tourbillon Skeleton watches are run by the BVL208 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement made in Bvlgari’s Swiss workshops. Apart from the “usual” time-keeping functions and a big power reserve (64 hours), it includes a tourbillon that seems to dance in mid-air. This total transparency is achieved by the meticulous, hand-produced openwork that allows the movement to be seen.

The dial has also been finely openworked, chased and sculpted to allow light to pass through and to form the colours of a rich foliage on which a parrot perches with sparkling plumage, portrayed in enamel and painting in miniature: the hooked beak of a red cockatoo, with a yellow breast and crest, on a mosaic of pink flowers, for the white gold model, or the Amazonian Macaw with bluish plumage interspersed with orangey feathers, surrounded by mauve flowers, for the rose gold version. The metal forming the birds, foliage and flowers has been previously hollowed out to make indentations that are then filled with colour. Some petals are set with diamonds, echoing the brilliant stones that line the bezel and the tapered lugs of the case, making a total of 1.96 carats.

Price upon request

By Sharmila Bertin

The snake bites back at Bvlgari!

The signature Serpenti in Bvlgari’s ladies collections comes in two new black or white ceramic models.

Bvlgari only began exploring watchmaking in the latter half of the 20^th century after over 50 years in jewellery. The Italian brand unveiled the Serpenti collection to bring watches and jewels together in one of its first timepieces. The range hasn’t stopped growing since the 1940s with a range of models and Bvlgari’s signature snake embodies the brand’s premium vision. This time the iconic model comes in black or white ceramic.

The new Serpenti Spiga glitters with rose gold and diamonds. Its curvy 35mm case has a rose gold bezel paved with brilliant-cut diamonds whilst the rose gold crown has a ceramic cabochon (black or white depending on the model). The black or white lacquer dial brings a touch of glamour to the watch. The Tubogas ceramic strap brings to mind a rippling snake’s movement, is waterproof to depths of 30m and features two rose gold details.

Serpenti Spiga is a technical challenge for the Italian brand. Making a flexible and articulated Tubogas strap in ceramic is no mean feat. Bvlgari has shaken up classic watchmaking values in this watch and injected it with a modern and sensual soul. The new ultra-feminine watch’s powers of seduction start with how soft the ceramic feels on the skin. The snake is modern and powerful. The bold yet elegant Serpenti Spiga oozes rock chic and flies in the face of classic watches.

Price: 9,950 CHF

By Inès Aloui

Introducing the Bvlgari Bvlgari Bvlgari Carbon Gold

The Bvlgari Bvlgari Carbon Gold collection is packed with nods to the past, the legendary city of Rome and the Bvlgari legacy! The date of the brand’s foundation, 1884, appears on a rose gold plate along the case from 8 to 10, Bvlgari is engraved on the fixed bezel like an ancient Roman coin and the dyed calfskin strap (brown, blue or black) is inspired by the braid that came with the ultra-limited edition of the first Bvlgari Roma in 1975.

The 40mm steel case has a black carbon resin coating and rose gold crown. It houses the self-winding B77 calibre which provides a 42-hour power reserve and brings to life the hours, minutes, seconds (in the centre) and date (at 3).

The dial comes in three colours: chocolate, navy and black. The hour rim’s indices and Arabic numerals glitter gold along with three central hands.

Price: 2,750 CHF

By Sharmila Bertin

Bvlgari – Octo Ultranero Solotempo

93 years after its foundation in Rome, Bvlgari began its watchmaking adventure in 1977 and is still going strong. Its Roman roots go into the patterns and architecture that are intrinsic to its designs as we can see on the Octo Ultranero Solotempo’s case.

The 41mm case is edgy to say the least. It’s carved out of steel, coated in black DLC and topped by an equally edgy bezel in the same material or rose gold. Its black lacquer dial bears slender hour markers and two Arabic numerals (6 and 12) in rose gold. The hours and minutes are tracked by two dauphine-shape openwork hands in the centre whilst a slim central seconds hand ticks down the seconds. The subtle white-on-black date display lies at 3.

The functions are fuelled by the self-winding BVL 193 calibre with a 50-hour power reserve.

Price: 7,950 CHF (black bezel) – 10,500 CHF (rose gold bezel)

By Sharmila Bertin

A symbol of physical strength and intelligence, the snake wraps its body around the wrist to showcase Bvlgari’s flair for watch and jewellery design. The Serpenti Incanti – enchanted snake – coils around a dial glittering with 116 brilliant-cut diamonds on a 30mm gem-set white or rose gold case. The quartz movement brings to life two blue spear-shape hands that track the hours and minutes on the dial. The rose gold model has baguette-cut magenta rubellites to soothe the diamonds glare around the dial and on the serpent’s head. The white gold model dazzles with pure diamonds: 112 stones capture the light on this piece. Both watches have chocolate or blue satin straps with a gem-set gold pin buckle. Two models with diamond straps finish the collection. Price: 45,000 CHF (satin strap) – 70,000 CHF (gem-set gold strap). Sharmila Bertin

In the field of luxury, Bvlgari is synonymous with bedazzlement. The Rome-based jeweller founded in 1884 reveals three jewellery watches worthy of a Christmas tale: Lvcea Haute Joaillerie. The diamond, the most precious of all precious stones and symbol of perfection and purity, is exalted. Baguette-cut, in other words a rectangle with nine facets, and set in a closed and invisible setting, it decorates the 23 mm white gold case and also covers the dial, like a radiant sun, and the spectacular bracelet with emblematic architecture. The emerald, the stone of wisdom, and the ruby, which symbolises victory and the passion of love, also intermingle on the case and the bracelet, on two limited editions in three pieces. In the middle of these shimmering faces are two blue sword-shaped hands which display the hours and minutes, paced by a quartz movement. Price upon request. Sharmila Bertin

In the wise words of French poet Paul Claudel (1868-1955), “For the flight of a single butterfly, a whole sky is needed”. In the world of mechanical poetry, the Bvlgari butterfly unfurls its gold wings in the heart of a black jade dial. The Papillon Heure Sautante’s unique patented display showcases a jumping hour complication in a black-on-white display at 12 o’ clock, a large central seconds hand and two short diamond-shape hands. Each hand glides along a semi-circular minute track adorned with large Arabic numerals from 3 to 9 o’ clock. The first hand of the pair is retracted whilst the second sweeps time under its wing before the first takes over after 55 minutes. This team work (dare we say it?!), the jumping hours and seconds are fuelled by the mechanical self-winding BVL 252 movement in the 45mm rose or white gold case. Price: 34,000 CHF. Sharmila Bertin

Some say that a woman is in her prime at 40. She is, so they say, in full bloom and at peace as time hasn’t yet had its way with her but the way she sees the world radiates wisdom. I don’t know if it’s true but I like to believe it as I’m 40, just like the iconic Roma de Bvlgari which launched in 1975. The timepiece has gone Finissimo for 2015 and its hourglass figure is in perfect proportion: 5.15mm thick, 41mm in diameter all carved out of steel and topped by a large flat bezel engraved with the names of the brand and model. This curvaceous setting houses the ultra-thin BVL128 calibre whose power reserve lasts up to 65 hours; the manual wind movement brings to life the time functions which appear on the black lacquer dial as two silver baton-shape hour and minute hands and a small seconds counter off-centre at 7.30. Price: 11’900 CHF

Maria Callas or Liz Taylor? Joan Sutherland or Grace Kelly? It doesn’t matter if she’s an opera singer or a Hollywood star, a Diva is quite simply a talented woman, a glamorous goddess and an inspiration for the world who transcends time. Italian brand Bvlgari has captured the Diva in time in the heart of a flower with glittering petals inspired by a 60s brooch. The bloom is a feast for the eyes whose colours and shapes wrap around a 39mm white gold case paved with 76 brilliant-cut diamonds and 8 blue tanzanites. The flower’s triangular petals unfurl like a fan; the largest dazzle with turquoises and the smaller white gold petals sparkle with diamonds and are punctuated by a round diamond (8 in total, approximately 1.96 carat). Two small blue hands track the hours and minutes on the diamond dial are brought to life by a quartz movement. Price: 60,000 CHF