BULGARI (Instagram), the epitome of luxury and innovation, continues to redefine elegance with its incredible series — the Divas’ Dream Peacock Marquetry Collection. This exquisite collection pays homage to the enchanting peacock, a symbol of beauty and confidence, through the artistry of marquetry.
In the world of haute horlogerie, BULGARI stands as a beacon of creativity. The Divas’ Dream Peacock collection, first introduced in 2017, transcends traditional concepts of métiers d’art, reaching new heights of sophistication and artistic expression. CEO Jean-Christophe Babin describes it as a journey beyond time in the book “BULGARI Beyond Time.” The authorized history of the House, Beyond Time is a testament to the Maison’s rich heritage and commitment to craftsmanship. The publication was also presented at Dubai Watch Week.
The Divas’ Dream Peacock takes its place among the ‘Animali Fantastici’ in BULGARI’s bestiary. While the ‘Serpenti’ – the company’s legendary icon – captivates with mysterious allure, the ‘Pavone’ (peacock) unfolds its majestic feathers, creating a mesmerizing wheel of arabesques—a nod to the mosaic designs in the Baths of Caracalla. The latest additions to the Divas’ Dream Peacock collection showcase BULGARI’s mastery of marquetry. The Divas’ Dream Peacock Feather Marquetry, Mother-of-Pearl Marquetry, and Precious Marquetry with Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes are true works of art.
Speaking of the first two pieces, Antoine Pin, Bulgari Watches Managing Director, highlighted the incredible techniques employed to create these stunning pieces, said, “We have the marquetery of feathers, where we are taking no less than 12 different feathers that are cut, glued, polished in order to give all the luster to the feathers and assembled by hand. It really gives the impression that the dial is made out of feathers. The last one is a complete marquetery of mother of pearl, different components and paintings, it takes one week to make one dial so more than 50 hours of work per dial by one of our two artisans who can do it.”
Divas’ Dream Peacock Feather Marquetry is a celebration of nature’s colours. This timepiece pays homage to the peacock’s luxurious blue plumage. Twelve vibrantly hued feathers, symbolizing wisdom, are meticulously inlaid on the dial using a technique dating back to Renaissance Italy. The result is a mosaic shimmering with silky reflections, capturing the essence of nature’s beauty.
The Divas’ Dream Peacock Mother-of-Pearl Marquetry features a regal peacock silhouette in gold and mother-of-pearl, this masterpiece evokes ideals of wealth, protection, and wisdom. The delicate mother-of-pearl marquetry requires finesse, with each element intricately cut and set into the dial. The organic iridescence of mother-of-pearl, outlined in rose gold, adds a touch of ethereal elegance.
Finally, the Divas’ Dream Peacock Precious Marquetry is the perfect symphony of craftsmanship. This exceptional timepiece merges horological and jewelry craftsmanship. The three-dimensional marquetry brings the peacock to life, adorned with rose gold, snow-set diamonds, aventurine, and malachite. The unique watchmaking mechanism, based on the BVL 262 Manufacture movement, showcases jumping hours and retrograde minutes—a true testament to BULGARI’s commitment to excellence. “The marquetery is extraordinary with 20 different elements, the eye of the peacock is a mini emerald. It is an extraordinary masterpiece in terms of finesse and mix of techniques. This watch was complex to develop. We had three or four reiterations of the watch itself because the first decoration was only in gold and the setting was a mix of gold and marquetery. Now it is mainly marquetery as we needed it to make sure the watch indication was visible enough. As much as we love to express ourselves using these métiers, we should not forget that we are making watches,” says Pin.
In BULGARI’s Divas’ Dream Peacock Marquetry Collection, each timepiece is a testament to the Maison’s artistry and dedication to perfection and is unlike anything you’re ever likely to see. As Pin says, “Today more than ever watches are pieces that you can wear, they are more or less art assets it is whether you want to take them home or wear as an appreciation for beautiful things and art mastery.” We couldn’t agree more.
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