Bvlgari Creates its Most Expensive Watch

Bvlgari launched its monumental new Magnifica high jewelry collection this June.

Bulgari unveiled its most expensive collection at the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan's city center. The event featured a musical rendition of Beethoven's Ode to Joy in Italian, "Inno alla Gioia", sung by tenor Andrea Bocelli with an orchestra conducted by Beatrice Venezi.

The collection comprised of 350 pieces of jewelry and watches all introduced in one go is includes unprecedentedly expensive pieces, with 60 pieces of jewelry worth over one million euro a pop. It's a huge selection but the tone is set by a number of masterpieces.

One of them is the Ruby Metamorphosis — Bvlgari's most expensive watch to date. It's one of four unique secret watch models. The jewellers spent 1,650 hours creating this masterpiece, of which around 1400 hours were devoted to creating and assembling the watch, with the remaining 250 hours spent cutting and setting all the stones.

The dial is concealed under a cover set with a cushion-cut central Mozambique ruby. The gem weighing 6.3 karats is the show-stopping centerpiece of the Ruby Metamorphosis watch. As its name suggests, it's not just a precious bracelet. There's also a convertible necklace to complement the watch.

Metamorphosis is a reference to the various different options for how its 10.02 karat cushion-cut central ruby can be worn. These elements can be worn separately as a choker, a sautoir or a brooch. They can also be worn together as a set or in any combination with at least nine different styling options.

The platinum watch case housing the quartz movement is blanketed in precious stones. The dial is completely covered with pavé-set diamonds weighing 4.80 karats. The case is decorated with 48 baguette-cut rubies (7.32 karats), 146 baguette-cut diamonds (19.78 karats) and 3 classic brilliant-cut diamonds (1.32 karats).