The Serpenti is one of Bulgari’s most iconic symbols, a motif it has returned to repeatedly for its jewels and timepieces over the years. There was no chance the Italian luxury brand wasn’t going to once again return to this theme for the Chinese Calendar Year of the Snake celebration beginning January 29.
For the occasion Bulgari unveiled the Solotempo BVS100 automatic movement and placed it into nine Serpenti women’s timepieces. The movement is specifically designed to fit the three-sided dimensions of the Serpenti case (its “head”).
Bulgari says the new movement transcends the Serpenti’s identity as a jewel into a “fully realized timepiece.” The movement was introduced in two references in the Serpenti Tubogas collection and seven references in the Serpenti Seduttori collection. All models have transparent casebacks to view the movement, including the oscillating weight adorned with the seven Serpenti scales and the Bulgari logo.
The Solotempo BVS100 automatic movement was designed and built in-house at its manufacture in Le Sentier, the result of three years of development, the company said. The new caliber features a “Solotempo” (time-only) display, indicating hours, minutes and seconds. It measures just 19mm in diameter and 3.90mm in thickness and weighs just 5 grams, while still delivering a 50-hour power reserve. Its compact, round design integrates into Serpenti’s curves while remaining versatile for other Bulgari creations, the company said.
The references with the new Solotempo BVS100 automatic movement are as follows:
Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas Automatic, 103903 / 103905
A 35mm rose gold curved case and bezel set with 40 round brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.4-carat. A rose gold crown is set with a cabochon pink rubellite and transparent caseback. The case houses a white opaline dial with a guilloche sunray motif and rose gold plated hands and indexes. The difference between the two references is in the length of the rose gold Tubogas bracelet.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, 103990
A 34mm white gold case and bezel set with 273 round brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 2.4 carats. The white gold crown is set with a cabochon sapphire. The dial is paved with 336 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 1 carat and completed with blued hands and indexes. A white gold supple bracelet with folding buckle is set with 266 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 5.3 carats.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, 103992
A 34 mm yellow gold case and bezel set with 273 round brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 2.4 carats. Yellow gold crown set with a cabochon pink rubellite. The dial is paved with 336 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 1 carat and completed with yellow gold-plated hands and indexes. A yellow gold supple bracelet with folding buckle set with 266 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 5.3 carats.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, 104060/104062
A 34mm stainless steel case and bezel set with 36 round brilliant-cut diamonds. Stainless steel crown set with a cabochon pink rubellite. White opaline or black lacquered dial with steel hands and indexes. Steel supple bracelet with folding buckle.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, 104058
A 34mm stainless steel case with rose gold bezel set with 36 round brilliant-cut diamonds. A rose gold crown set with a cabochon pink rubellite. White opaline dial with rose gold-plated hands and indexes. Steel and rose gold supple bracelet with folding buckle.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, 103899
A 34mm rose gold case and bezel set with 36 round brilliant-cut diamonds. A rose gold crown set with a cabochon pink rubellite. White opaline dial with rose gold-plated hands and indexes. Rose gold supple bracelet with folding buckle.
Bulgari Serpenti Seduttori Automatic, 103898
A 34mm yellow gold case and bezel set with 36 round brilliant-cut diamonds. A yellow gold crown set with a cabochon pink rubellite. A white opaline dial with yellow gold-plated hands and indexes. A yellow gold supple bracelet with folding buckle.
This story was originally published on forbes.com.
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