New Octa Romas And 4 New High-End Watches From Bulgari Have Just Been Released
Using malachite, lapis lazuli or onyx, Bulgari is offering three new Octo Roma models that can be customized in 30 different ways this summer.
A variety of cuts, shapes and settings are used to create the four Magnifica high jewelry secret watches, which feature top-notch rubies, sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. All of these unique pieces have quartz movements, and they were conceived by the creative team at Bulgari’s Rome high jewelry atelier, led by product creation executive director Fabrizio Buonamassa.
This secret watch, set in platinum and topped with a Mozambique ruby of 6.3 carats, took 1,650 hours to make. 146 baguette-cut diamonds (19.78 carats), three brilliant-cut diamonds (1.32 carats), and four pavé-set diamonds (4.80 carats) surround it with 48 baguette-cut rubies (7.32 carats). This bracelet is made up of articulated sections that fit together like a flexible bracelet, and the dial is full pavé.
This watch is designed in the baroque style of Roman architecture with an offset dial surrounded by a wide array of gems that are arranged in curvy swaths of various shapes. Featuring a vibrant shade of blue that reminds us of the Roman sky, the showpiece gem on the cover is a 6.07-carat oval sapphire set in platinum. The watch features 103 sapphires (11.44 carats), 10 tourmaline beads (27.90 carats), and 779 round diamonds (0.90 carats) on a pavé dial.
One of the outliers is the art-deco diamond-set Diamond Swan bracelet, which features links shaped like a swan's wing woven in a tapered formation. There's a special construction Bulgari developed to make these links appear to float in mid-air with diamonds juxtaposed with mother-of-pearl inserts. There are six round brilliant diamonds (6.14 carats), 12 mother-of-pearl inserts (13.56 carats), and 23.31 carats of diamonds. It takes its design cues from a Bulgari necklace that bears the same name, which was inspired by Tamara de Lempicka's Art Deco artwork.
There are 10 cabochon-cut rubies (2.32 carats) set in 18-karat rose gold and eight cabochon-cut sapphires (2.81 carats) on the Magnifica Baroque spiral watch. There are also eight cabochon-cut emeralds (2.41 carats) and 1384 carats of diamonds set in pavé. A matching high jewelry necklace was influenced by Artemisia Gentileschi, who was inspired by a Baroque period piece.
Bulgari boutiques will display Magnifica at high jewelry events this summer. Pieces are available for private viewing by contacting Bulgari. All prices are subject to change.
The Octo Roma Naturalia collection's tourbillons utilize red-carpet-ready materials in a slightly different way for those who prefer a more masculine setting for their precious stones. Lapis lazuli, malachite, or onyx are carved into shapes that can be used as overlays or indexes on bridges, plates, or bezels. A single block of stone is used to cut the components for each watch so the color and grain of the stone can remain intact. Because each rock has to be picked, cut, polished and assembled by hand, it takes two months. Each stone has its own lore, according to Bulgari: black onyx symbolizes protection and inner strength; lapis lazuli represents honor and possibility; green malachite symbolizes change.
There are 30 possible combinations of case, and a sales associate can create a customized version based on your choice of stone, case material, case setting, and engraving on the case back using a special app. The 44 mm Octo Roma Naturalia pieces feature the BVL206 flying tourbillon caliber. There are a number of options to choose from, including titanium, pink gold, and platinum. Diamonds can either be set in the bezel and middle case or just the bezel. Prices will vary accordingly.
