Bulgari: Divas’ Dream

DIVA FINISSIMA MINUTE REPEATER

A new world record to celebrate its most ancient horological skill, one hundred years of jewellery.

Diva Finissima Minute Repeater raises a majestic anthem to artistry by chiming the time on demand while also celebrating a century of watchmaking and jewellery expertise, masterfully expressed through daring gemsetting and a dial embellished by gold-spangled Urushi lacquer. Beating at its art is the world’s thinnest minute repeater movement in a ladies’ watch, Finissima, an evolved version of the famous Finissimo Minute Repeater movement presented by Bvlgari at Baselworld 2016 in the Octo collection. The record-breaking calibre is developed and crafted by the Master Watchmakers of the Italian brand at the Manufacture in Le Sentier.

This watchmaking wonder celebrates the first Bvlgari creations dating back to 1918 in the form of exquisitely beautiful platinum jewellery watches adorned with magnificent diamonds. Since then, Bvlgari has asserted itself as one of the key players in the realm of high-end ladies’ watches, notably with its Serpenti and Lvcea collections.

Demurely concealing its ability to tell the time to music, the world-first Diva Finissima chimes a crystal-clear tune on demand, once the mechanism is activated by a gemset charm whirling in step with its owner’s wrist movements. By imbuing the passing of time with a rare degree of sophistication, this jewellery timepiece with its unique personality is a reminder of Bvlgari’s century-long attachment to this noble art.

The enchantingly refined Diva Finissima is graced with an exceptionally slim 18kt rose gold 37mm-diameter case. Its delightful design is softened by tapered lugs whose voluptuous curves are accentuated by brilliant-cut diamonds, while an 18kt rose gold winding crown set with a splendid facetted diamond offers a counterpoint to these gently rounded shapes. The quintessential jewellery watch – belonging to a collection that has demonstrated the wealth of variations on the theme of artistic crafts and elegance – naturally deserved a dial worthy of its splendour.

This true face of the watch is thus crafted from Urushi lacquer, in harmony with the finest Japanese tradition, by an experienced artisan well accustomed to all its subtle characteristics. During an entire month, ten or so layers of beautifully shimmering plant-based lacquer are applied to the dial plate. Each operation calls for deft brush strokes, followed after a 48-hour drying process by accurate and delicate polishing with a cotton pad and stag-horn powder. To achieve a perfectly dense yet diaphanous cloud of gold spangles, the latter are sieved through a bamboo shoot and expertly sprinkled across the surface, while the last layer is coated with transparent lacquer designed to increase the visual depth effect characterising the Urushi technique. Finally, the Bvlgari’s gemsetters fit tiny diamond hour-markers on this miniature painting featuring motifs that are always unique and a surface destined to stand the test of time.

Diva Finissima is the jewellery accomplishment of a watchmaking miracle whose magic is only truly expressed through rarity – which is precisely why this model, a creative encapsulation of the skills faithfully nurtured by Bvlgari for 100 years, will be issued in a strictly limited edition of ten.

DIVAS’ DREAM PHOENIX TOURBILLON

The Phoenix takes flight.

A legendary crimson red bird, reborn after being consumed by flames… The Phoenix symbolises the cycles of death and resurrection while epitomising timeless nobility. The brightly coloured feathers of the motif adorning the new Divas’ Dreams by Bvlgari surrounds a fascinating tourbillon mechanism.

Divas’ Dreams draws inspiration from the permanent of the beauty of Rome, and in particular from the motif adorning the mosaics of the Caracalla thermal baths. Reinterpreted in an extremely modern manner, to the point of becoming a Bvlgari emblem, this geometric yet flowing petal-shaped pattern perfectly matches the round case of the watch, imbuing it with a sensuality naturally evoking the muses that continue to inspire the Maison.

Divas’ Dreams Phoenix embodies the quintessence of this line. Its elegant case surrounds a watch mechanism every bit as slim and delicate as the partially openworked and entirely hand-painted dial intricately depicting the phoenix alongside the ardent flames. Applying the colours calls for three full days of meticulous craftsmanship. Its vivid, flamboyant colours – ranging from red to orangey to yellow in subtly graded shades – make a delightful contrast with a scattering of blue accents. The legendary bird also appears around the inner rim of the slim 18kt rose gold case topped by a diamond-set bezel. It literally rests on the tourbillon mechanism, whose perpetual motion is entirely visible.

This splendid creation with its refined blend of artistic crafts is issued in a strictly limited 50-piece edition.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

DIVAS' DREAM

• DIVA FINISSIMA MINUTE REPEATER

Movement

Manufacture Bvlgari minute repeater movement, 3.12mm thin manual-winding Calibre BVL 362 Finissimo movement, hours and minutes indications, off-centred small seconds, 42-hour power reserve.

Case and dial

18kt rose gold 37mm-diameter case, lugs snow-set with brilliant-cut diamonds (~4.26 cts), transparent caseback, 18kt rose gold crown set with a facetted diamond; water-resistant to 30m; total thickness 9.42mm. Dial crafted in black lacquer and speckled with gold dust using the Japanese artisanal Urushi technique; hour-markers and small seconds set with brilliant-cut diamonds (~ 0.28ct).

Strap

Black alligator leather strap secured by an 18kt rose gold folding clasp set with diamonds (~0.29ct).

Total diamond weight: 4.83cts

Ten-piece limited edition.

• DIVAS’ DREAM PHOENIX TOURBILLON

Movement

Manufacture Bvlgari skeleton tourbillon movement, manual-winding Calibre BVL 208, hours and minutes hands, 64-hour power-reserve indication.

Case and dial

18kt rose gold 37mm-diameter case and lugs set with 76 brilliant-cut diamonds (~1.76ct), 18kt rose gold crown set with a cabochon-cut rubellite, water-resistant to 30m. Openworked dial hand-painted with Phoenix and flames motifs.

Strap

Red alligator leather strap secured by a triple-blade 18kt rose gold folding clasp set with brilliant-cut diamonds.

50-piece limited edition.