Bvlgari Fenice High-Jewelry Secret Watch

Since its foundation, Bvlgari has always found inspiration in the eternal city. In keeping with its Greek and Roman roots the Maison celebrates some of the most iconic mythological animals, unveiling the “Animali Fantastici” collection, a tribute to ancient history and culture.

The ancient Greeks and Egyptians described a mythical bird called the Phoenix, a magnificent creature that was a symbol of renewal and immortality. Representing power and the emperor during the Roman Empire, phoenixes were found on coins, their heads haloed by a solar crown. The bird was chosen by Bvlgari as a potent icon, reflecting its splendid heritage and its ability to continuously be reborn and transform itself.

Bvlgari Watch Division Creative Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani wanted to celebrate eternity with a mythological animal, a breathtaking work of art that required over 3,000 hours to be finished. With the absolute masterpiece Fenice High-Jewelry Watch, the Roman Maison reaffirms its position of Master of colored gemstone. Bvlgari selected over 160 carats of strikingly beautiful stones, including blue, pink and purple sapphires, amethysts, rubies, pink garnets, tanzanites, iolites, aquamarines and diamonds, to create an incredible degradé effect in a color palette, spanning from blue and red to pink and purple. This secret watch reveals an exceptionally rare central 9.78-carat Paraiba tourmaline, that hides the watch dial. The delicate and dashing mobile feathering embraces the wrist thanks to a unique openwork construction allowing the bird to spread its wings and fly away. In this timepiece, the splendid Phoenix is surrounded by spikes, that symbolize the light of the resurrection enhancing the creation’s unparalleled sparkle, which was inspired by Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s altarpiece located at the Roman church of Santa Maria della Vittoria.