Serpenti Reimagined: Bvlgari and MB&F's Unexpected Masterpiece
A one-of-a-kind creation tO challenge horological conventions
PRESS RELEASE | 570 words | 5 min read
Imagine a serpent, not of scales, but of gears and springs, coiling around your wrist. This is the vision behind the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti, a watch that defies expectations and blends the worlds of high jewellery and horological machines in a truly unexpected way. Bvlgari, renowned for its Italian elegance and exquisite jewellery, has joined forces with MB&F, the mavericks of haute horlogerie known for their kinetic wrist sculptures. The result? A timepiece that is as much a work of art as it is a feat of engineering.
This isn't the first time these two seemingly disparate worlds have collided. In 2021, a chance encounter between Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Director of Watchmaking Creation at Bvlgari, and Maximilian Büsser, Founder and Creative Director of MB&F, sparked the MB&F x Bvlgari LM FlyingT Allegra. That collaboration brought the exuberant, colorful world of Bvlgari jewelry into MB&F's Legacy Machines, a dazzling fusion that left both brands wondering, "What's next?"
Image Courtesy: MB&F
Image Courtesy: MB&F
For their second act, Fabrizio and Max turned to an icon from Bvlgari's past: the Serpenti. This emblem of eternal rebirth and bold metamorphosis has graced Bvlgari's creations since 1948, a symbol of sinuous elegance and captivating transformation. The challenge was to translate this iconic serpent into the very mechanical universe of MB&F's Horological Machines.
Image Courtesy: MB&F
A Serpent Slithers into the Future
Reimagining the Serpenti as a Horological Machine demanded more than just a new movement; it required a complete rethinking of the entire timepiece. From the intricacies of the mechanical engineering to the complexities of the case design and manufacturing, every aspect had to be re-evaluated. The Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti is a truly unique creation, born from a shared vision and an intense design process where caliber and design intertwine seamlessly.
Image Courtesy: MB&F
Image Courtesy: MB&F
"It was a pleasure to create," says Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, though the hundreds of sketches and dozens of 3D-printed models suggest a more arduous journey. Unlike the simplicity of a classic round case, the Serpenti's elliptical (tonneau) shape presented a complex puzzle. Like a finely tuned automobile, the watch offers a radically different perspective depending on the angle of view. Each viewpoint—front, side, top, back—had to be equally captivating, a delicate balancing act where adjusting one curve or angle could compromise another. This intricate dance of design resulted in countless iterations, a testament to the dedication poured into achieving the perfect form for the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti.
Image Courtesy: MB&F
Image Courtesy: MB&F
Image Courtesy: MB&F
The result is a watch that is more than just a time-telling instrument. It's a statement piece, a conversation starter, a testament to the power of collaboration and the relentless pursuit of horological perfection. It's a serpent that has slithered into the future, carrying with it the combined DNA of two exceptional brands.