A snake that brings time itself to life.
In 2021, MB&F entered into a unique collaboration, unexpectedly creating a watch with the Swiss watchmaker Bulgari. The result was the MB&F x Bulgari Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra model for her — a perfect blend of the first ladies watch by MB&F and the Allegra jewelry watch by Bulgari.
The collaboration piece inherited the flying tourbillon with a balance under the 50° inclined dial from the MB&F model, and it took the cabochon cut diamonds and multicolored precious stones from Bulgari's model.
Four years on, and the companies have teamed up again. This time, Bulgari's Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser have created the Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti.
Bulgari's Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser
Don't be thrown off by the mention of Bulgari's legendary Serpenti line in the name: the novelty is more reminiscent of creations by MB&F, and the symbolic snake has been transformed into a formidable reptile.
The Serpenti for the collaboration has a surprising amount of curves — both in metal and sapphire crystal. There are five of the latter. Each domed eye indication is made of a solid piece of aluminum: the dome on the left makes one full rotation every 12 hours, while the one on the right makes one every 60 minutes.
Both of the domes have hand-applied Super-LumiNova, which allows the reptile to see its owner in the dark. The model's extra curves can be attributed to another source of inspiration for Büsser: cars.
Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti Watch
Hence the aerodynamic grooves on the sapphire crystal. Other automotive details can be found in the Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti: the dual crowns look like wheels, and a radiator grille has appeared over the movement (and there's snake-inspired decoration here too).
Three versions of the model have been launched: rose-gold with green domes, titanium with blue domes, and black PVD-coated steel with red domes. Availability is limited to 33 pieces.
That being the case, the watchmakers at MB&F can only craft and assemble six to eight Bulgari x MB&F movements a month, so it'll take more than a year to complete the whole series.