Bulgari
MEDITERRANEA
High-End Watches 2023 collection
In occasion of the launch of the new Mediterranea High-Jewelry collection, Bulgari unveils an exceptional range of High-End Watches, combining the most brilliant Italian creativity with the most exquisite Swiss watchmaking tradition.
In a sumptuous celebration of beauty and craftsmanship, Bulgari interprets the Mediterranean inspiration conceiving outstanding one-of-a-kind timepieces for both women and men.
Southern Radiance
The Bulgari watch design studio, based in Neuchatel in Switzerland, interpreted the “Southern Radiance” pillar by celebrating the richness of the Mediterranean underwater world and reflecting Bulgari’s Roman bold and daring DNA. All watches in this chapter are mechanical and powered by Bulgari’s high horology calibers, notably the Piccolissimo caliber BVL 100, featuring miniature dimensions that allow unbridled imagination and creativity.
The design studio, along with the brand’s skilled artisans and color gemstones experts, gave life to two underwater gardens where the flexible structure, along with a variety of hidden treasures and living reef convey a sense of vibrancy and joy. All the elements – fixed, moving or set on tremblers, – are assembled on a flexible bracelet made of coral-shaped parts in white gold evoking the movement of sea waves while providing comfort on the wrist. Bulgari was inspired by the Nineties’ Naturalia collection, and in particular, by a heritage shell brooch set with sapphires and a cabochon emerald.
The Giardino Marino Grande secret watch, that required more than 3,900 hours to be completed, steals the spotlight with an exceptional combination of fishes, seashells, anemones set on tremblers, mobile corals, and decorated beads, all crafted from over 4,800 colorful precious stones and gems, carefully matched to obtain vibrant color effects. By the lively reef, two sea world treasures can be discovered: a starfish showing a central 3,96-carat cabochon rubellite, and a seashell paved with diamonds and Paraiba tourmalines. Both detachable, they can be worn as earrings complementing the watch. Another sapphire-paved shell opens by pressing the round diamond revealing a pearl inside. The last treasure is hidden behind the central fish: the dial of the watch powered by the Piccolissimo micro mechanical movement. With a 12mm diameter, a thickness of 2.50mm and a weight of just 1.30 grams, Bulgari’s Piccolissimo is the smallest round mechanical caliber on the market and a testament to the Maison’s art of miniaturization. Exceptional craftsmanship and vibrant colorful stones meet watchmaking know-how to reveal a true masterwork.
An impressive degradé of blue and green defines the Giardino Marino Piccolo secret watch, where a reef featuring fishes, anemones, and seashells is recreated in a Southern Italy-inspired vibrant color palette, with the use of diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, Paraiba tourmalines, tanzanite, green tourmalines, tsavorites, topaz and peridot. Acentral see-through topaz reveals the dial of the watch featuring the Piccolissimo mechanical micro round movement.
Under a cabochon-inspired dome, Bulgari recreated a miniaturized living aquarium in the Divas’ Dream Acquarium watch. Over a dial paved with degradé Paraiba tourmalines, sapphires and diamonds, two fishes, – each of them enriched with two pear-shaped stones: the former with rubies and rubellites, the latter with Paraiba tourmalines and sapphires, – swim thanks to a sophisticated jewelry technique. At the same time, set on tremblers, corals, shells and stones float like in the sea world. Adding extra preciousness, the white gold flexible bracelet is paved with Paraiba tourmalines, sapphires and diamonds, while the case back is hand engraved with a dedicated marine drawing.
Undisputed creativity and unparalleled craftsmanship brought to life the Octo Roma Mediterranea secret men’s watch, characterized by a precious octopus crafted with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and Paraiba tourmalines that gives the impression of stepping back, while its tentacles seem emerging from the medallion. Showing a 44 mm rose gold case set with diamonds and a blue alligator strap, the watch reveals an ultra-thin manual movement, BVL 268 SK caliber with flying tourbillon.
Roman Splendor
Celebrating and elevating its signature use of Greek and Roman coins within its collections, – a practice introduced by Nicola Bulgari in the Sixties, – Bulgari decided to employ the antique art of cameo carving to enrich the “Roman Splendor” range. Dating back as far as the 5th century BCin Greece, the exquisite cameo art became extremely popular in Ancient Rome, especially in the family circle of Augustus. To honor this tradition, while exalting its Roman roots, Bulgari wanted to pay tribute to the greatest sovereigns of all times: Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and the First Emperor of Rome Augusto Ottaviano. To demonstrate a commitment to using traditional techniques and honoring the history and heritage of cameo carving, Bulgari collaborated with world-famous Torre del Greco-based artisans.
The noble profile of Cleopatra appears as a cameo on the precious pendant of the Cameo Imperiale secret watch necklace. Arose gold chain is matched with a pendant concealing a watch, all featuring diamonds and brilliant-cut rubies. The watch case is also decorated with sapphires, while diamonds are snow-set around the sophisticated Tourbillon Lumière manual-winding mechanical movement, BVL 208 in gold with a power reserve of 64 hours. This openwork mechanism represents a true work of watchmaking art, with all components decorated and finished by hand. Its intricate design allows light to shine through, creating a mesmerizing effect that highlights the intricate details of the watch’s inner workings.
Introducing men’s pieces in its High-End Watches collection, the Roman house unveiled an extraordinary timepiece mixing the most exquisite high-jewelry craftsmanship with Swiss watchmaking precision. The one-of-a-kind Octo Roma Secret Watch Cameo Imperiale seduces with a platinum cap where the profile of the Roman emperor is made in cameo and set with diamonds and lapis lazuli. Showing a precious 44 mm platinum case with diamonds and a black alligator strap, it reveals an ultra-thin manual winding mechanical movement, BVL 268 SK caliber with flying tourbillon. This mechanism is an openworked version of the brand’s record-breaking tourbillon movement. With a thickness of just under 2mm, it features a sleek and refined profile, making it a true standout in the world of fine watchmaking.
SERPENTI75
Apowerful symbol among different Mediterranean cultures, from Mesopotamia and Egypt to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the snake is one of Bulgari’s most legendary icons.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary since its first appearance in the Roman house’s jewelry collections, the snake is now honored with two incredible high-end watches included in the Mediterranea lineup.
Sinuously wrapping around the wrist, the new Serpenti Misteriosi Pallini secret watch is inspired by 1955’s yellow gold and diamond Serpenti secret watch. Thanks to the introduction of the Piccolissimo movement, for the first time featured in a Pallini watch, the proportions were significantly reduced guaranteeing an elegant aesthetic balance and impeccable fit. Showing Bulgari’s status as the master of colored gems, emeralds, Paraiba tourmalines and diamonds are wonderfully combined in this exclusive creation and are set on tremblers guaranteeing dynamic movement for this patented bracelet design. The white gold watch head is enriched with round brilliant-cut diamonds and two pear-shaped emerald eyes.
Taking inspiration from the Serpenti watch designed by Bulgari for Elizabeth Taylor when she was playing the main role in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s Cleopatra movie, the Serpenti Misteriosi Dragone secret watch shows a white gold dragon head covered with diamonds and featuring 2 pear-shape emerald eyes. The three-twirl white gold bracelet enriched with round brilliant-cut diamonds and emeralds completes an extraordinary timepiece, that offers an incomparable comfortable fit. Revealing Bulgari’s omnipresent playful touch, the snake head opens by pressing the little tongue and reveals a dial that can be easily turned, enabling to wear the timepiece either on the left or on right wrist, as it happened with the heritage piece. This extraordinary creation is powered by the brand’ smallest mechanical movement.
East MeetsWest
Highlighting the offering’s eclectic spirit, Western and Eastern influences converge into the “East Meets West” range. Presented with a matching necklace, the Oriental Buds high-jewelry secret watch evokes a lush exotic garden, its geometric symmetry inspired by Byzantine architecture. Bursting with life and energy, this exceptional timepiece, that required 900 hours to be completed, features a stunning combination of diamonds, tourmalines, emeralds and sapphires beads infused with dynamic vibrancy. The secret watch is dominated by a 5.65-carat Colombian cushion-cut emerald nested in a pavé-diamond setting of Indian Mughal-inspired motifs. Pushing the central emerald, the flower opens revealing the dial enriched with sparkling diamonds.
