Baselworld 2016: DIVAS’ DREAM - A CERTAIN ART OF LIVING AND BEING

Baselworld 2016: DIVAS’ DREAM - A CERTAIN ART OF LIVING AND BEING

A tribute to the iconic figures of the dolce vita, the new creations testify to prolific, precious and sophisticated creativity

Daring shapes, unswervingly loyalty to values rooted in the history of Rome, designs paying tribute to the women who have forged the grandeur of the city and fashioned the image of a certain art of living and being: the Divas’ Dream watches evoke the Dolce Vita period during which the greatest movie stars of the era shone the light of the eternal City around the world. Yesterdays Divas make way for those of tomorrow, for whom the Bulgari watch creations are intended. Because nothing is too beautiful for a woman.

Sophisticated, ambitious, audacious and precious: the new Divas’ Dream watches are a glowing tribute to Womanhood and to feminine character expressed in several different ways. These elegant models take the graceful shape of a complication watch, firmly assert themselves as supremely refined timepieces featuring a dial entirely paved with diamonds, or opt for bold innovation in an acetate version. 

Incurably romantic creations playing with the subtle refinement of coloured gemstones or horological creations, the new Divas’ Dream watches with Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes give a new twist to the feminine reading of time.

Pure, essential dial. The new Divas’ Dream models feature a pure dial that focuses on essentials: an hours display through an aperture at 6 o’clock, retrograde minutes hands sweeping over the surface of the coloured stones. The dial layout provides a broad surface enabling the eye to appreciate the unique texture and distinctive shades of radiant sky blue lapis lazuli framed by a white gold case, or of burgundy red heart of ruby stone matched by a pink gold exterior. On both models, the seven retrograde minutes markers are in fact diamonds.

The mechanical self-winding movement beating at the heart of the watch, BVL Calibre 262, has a 42-hour power reserve. Its single retrograde minutes hand, together with the Jumping Hours display appearing through a rounded aperture, transform time measurement into a poetic, precious and vibrant experience. The case, as well as the characteristic lug of Divas’ Dream watches evoking the fan-shaped motif adorning the Caracalla thermal baths, are set with 79 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling more than two carats.

Graced with perfectly balanced aesthetics and imbued with an inimitably graceful aura, these new models combine stylistic simplicity with horological complications, entirely in harmony with the High Jewellery collections of the Rome-based Maison drawing inspiration from the same historical sources of ancient Italy.

Sensual and romantic. The eminently sensual and romantic Divas’ Dream models nonetheless also deign to appear in the form of simpler watches with no particular horological complications, while remaining inherently sophisticated and representing the perfect jewellery watch. Two original new interpretations accompany the Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes versions. Their signature acetate dial is both surprising and innovative. This high-tech material stems from a natural cotton and wood fibre mix that undergoes a process resulting in a solid body that is carved into fine strips. After careful surface treatment and polishing, each of these strips becomes a dial featuring unique shimmering reflections. Acetate ideally serves the cause of precious jewellery watches, and the hour-markers enabling easy and perfect reading of the hours and minutes are in fact diamonds dotted around the rim of the dark anthracite dial matched by a taupe-coloured strap. This jewellery detailing echoes the rubellite cabochon adorning the dial. In an ultimate touch of refinement, Divas’ Dream is also interpreted in a splendid 18-carat white gold version with a full-pavé diamond dial.

Rigorous jewelery and watchmaking standards. Bulgari once again demonstrates its rigorous standards applied to both jewellery and watchmaking. For the Rome-based Maison, no element must be entirely or exclusively dedicated to pure performance, nor is it ever conceived to serve a purely decorative performance. Divas’ Dream draws its inspiration on the one hand from the permanent beauty of Rome – the majestic city cloaked in its aura of eternity – and particularly from the remarkable fan-shaped pattern embellishing the mosaic floors of the Caracalla thermal baths. This has now become the emblematic motif gracing the Bulgari High Jewellery collections and is beautifully suited to the rounded shape of a watch case. These smooth, perfectly natural curves not only accentuate the design of the case, but also ensure the seamless integration of the satin strap by means of a surprising secret articulation system. The latter also endows the watch with an unexpected supple, flowing feel ensuring perfect comfort on the wrist, where the strength of the design is fully revealed.

And because life is an enchanted ball, Divas’ Dream is an open invitation to join the dance with unrestrained passion.