Witness the stunning Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti—a timepiece that redefines horological boundaries with its exquisite craftsmanship, kinetic design, and limited edition allure. Only 33 pieces per version, merging luxury and innovation in an unforgettable collaboration.
Bvlgari: A Legacy of Elegance and Innovation
Founded in 1884 in the heart of Rome, Bvlgari has long been a name synonymous with unparalleled craftsmanship and Italian luxury. From its iconic Serpenti designs to the sleek Octo Finissimo, Bvlgari combines the elegance of Italian artistry with Swiss precision, making waves in the worlds of fine jewelry and haute horology. Their passion for timeless innovation drives a collection of creations that not only symbolize opulence but redefine it, making them a powerful force in the luxury industry. Now, with the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti, the Italian luxury giant joins forces with the bold horological avant-garde, propelling timepieces to new heights of artistry.
Bvlgari, a name synonymous with timeless elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship, has long been celebrated as one of the foremost icons in luxury watchmaking. Founded in Rome in 1884, Bvlgari has consistently merged Italian artistry with Swiss precision, creating timepieces that embody sophistication and a distinct sense of style. The brand’s rich heritage, rooted in its mastery of jewelry, has seamlessly translated into its horological creations, with collections like the Serpenti and Octo Finissimo capturing the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts alike. What is particularly striking about Bvlgari is its ability to balance tradition with bold innovation, continuously pushing the envelope of watchmaking while staying true to its Roman roots.
In recent years, Bvlgari has demonstrated a remarkable evolution in both aesthetics and technical prowess, embracing cutting-edge technology and avant-garde designs without compromising on its iconic charm. The brand’s pursuit of extreme thinness with models like the Octo Finissimo has challenged the very fabric of mechanical engineering, offering timepieces that are as technologically advanced as they are visually striking. The collaboration with MB&F on the Serpenti is a perfect example of how Bvlgari is redefining the future of watchmaking. The technical complexity and design audacity of this piece, which incorporates elements of MB&F’s kinetic art and Bvlgari’s impeccable jewelry heritage, showcases a level of mechanical sophistication that is truly awe-inspiring. As a watch expert, I am both impressed and invigorated by how Bvlgari is not only preserving its legacy but also leading the charge into an exciting new era of horology where aesthetics, innovation, and craftsmanship coexist harmoniously.
Bvlgari x MB&F: A Dynamic and Unexpected Collaboration
MB&F and Bvlgari: two names that occupy distinct worlds of watchmaking, yet together, they forge a path that challenges tradition and embraces artistry. Founded by Maximilian Büsser in 2005, MB&F redefined conventional watchmaking, introducing kinetic sculptures for the wrist that defied expectations. Their “Horological Machines” reimagined timepieces as futuristic works of art, blending the cutting-edge with avant-garde design.
In 2021, a serendipitous meeting between Bvlgari’s Director of Watchmaking Creation, Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, and MB&F’s Maximilian Büsser laid the foundation for an unexpected collaboration: the MB&F x Bvlgari LM FlyingT Allegra. This first venture took Bvlgari’s rich jewelry heritage and married it with MB&F’s mechanical wizardry, culminating in an exuberant, colorful watch that delighted collectors. Following this success, both brands asked, “What’s next?”
In this second collaboration, Bvlgari’s iconic Serpenti motif—the symbol of transformation and rebirth since 1948—would undergo an ambitious mechanical evolution, creating a timepiece that captures both Bvlgari’s Italian heritage and MB&F’s horological boldness.
Reimagining Serpenti: An Icon Transformed Into a Timekeeping Sculpture
The Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti is no mere timepiece—it is a masterwork of mechanical engineering and design. Bringing the Serpenti to life required not just redesigning its iconic look, but an entirely new approach to movement and structure. The watch becomes a living, slithering sculpture, reflecting both Bvlgari’s enduring elegance and MB&F’s audacious spirit.
For Bvlgari’s Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, this was an exhilarating challenge. He notes that while the design was “a pleasure to create,” the process was far from simple. Hundreds of sketches and 3D-printed models were necessary to perfect the contours, angles, and curves of the Serpenti case. Unlike traditional round cases, the Serpenti’s design is complex, requiring a seamless harmony across multiple viewing angles. Each adjustment affected the balance of the whole, leading to numerous design iterations before arriving at perfection.
The Complexity of Case Manufacturing
Once the design was finalized, the next hurdle was bringing it into the physical world. The Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti’s case is a marvel of engineering, combining curvaceous metalwork with five intricately shaped sapphire crystals, including the “eyes” of the snake. These elements aren’t just a design challenge—they also had to be water-resistant, a feat that added further complexity to the project.
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Maximilian Büsser shares, “At MB&F, we specialize in ‘kinetic sculptures which give time,’ and this collaboration was exactly that. However, the biomorphic design of the Serpenti created significant technical challenges not only with the case but also with the movement.” The case itself was crafted using advanced 5-axis CNC milling techniques, which allowed for the curved metalwork to be precisely machined and combined with the sapphire crystals, all while ensuring a water resistance of 30 meters.
A Movement Like No Other
Inside the intricately sculpted case lies an equally extraordinary movement—one that breaks all traditional watchmaking norms. The heart of the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti is a bespoke, in-house MB&F movement, featuring a 14mm flying balance wheel that floats above the domed dials. The rotating hour and minute domes are inspired by the Serpenti’s hypnotic eyes, which shift and come to life every 12 and 60 minutes, respectively.
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Crafted from lightweight aluminum, the paper-thin domes are treated with Super-LumiNova, giving them a luminous glow in the dark. The large balance wheel, an oversized feature in the watch, is placed atop a three-dimensional balance bridge bearing the names of both Bvlgari and MB&F, further showcasing the collaborative effort that brought the Serpenti to life.
A Nod to Automotive Design
Both Bvlgari’s Buonamassa Stigliani and MB&F’s Büsser share a deep passion for automotive design, and it’s clear that this passion influenced the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti. The case, with its sleek curves and complex surfaces, mirrors the design language of a sports car. The stepped sapphire crystal and intricate detailing on the crowns evoke the appearance of an automotive rear window and wheels, respectively, while the grille on the back of the watch, with its hexagonal pattern, recalls car engine components.
Three Limited Editions: A Collector’s Dream
The Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti is not just a timepiece—it’s a limited-edition piece of art, with only 33 pieces available in each of the following stunning configurations:
- Titanium with Blue Domes – A lightweight, futuristic take on the Serpenti, with a grade 5 titanium case and blue domes.
- 18K Rose Gold with Green Domes – A luxurious interpretation of the snake, in rose gold, complete with green eyes.
- Black PVD-Coated Stainless Steel with Red Domes – A striking, bold version in black stainless steel, with red eyes that command attention.
Each piece is a hand-finished marvel, with only a select few watchmakers capable of assembling these complex timepieces. With only 99 pieces in total, the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti will be coveted by collectors for years to come.
A Masterpiece Born of Two Worlds
In the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti, we see the harmonious intersection of two very different worlds—luxurious Italian design and avant-garde Swiss engineering. Together, Bvlgari and MB&F have created something that is not merely a watch but a bold statement of creativity and craftsmanship, a piece of mechanical art that pushes the boundaries of traditional horology while paying homage to one of Bvlgari’s most enduring icons. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, this collaboration will stand as a defining moment in the evolution of high-end watchmaking.
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