While this collaboration might seem a bit odd at first, it’s a perfect synergy at a closer look. Both brands revere craftsmanship and thrive on creating the unprecedented, making their partnership all the more fitting. Which is why the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti follows a daring reimagining of one of Bvlgari’s most iconic symbols, merging the Italian house’s signature elegance with MB&F’s avant-garde mechanical artistry.
Bvlgari has long been synonymous with opulent craftsmanship, blending elegant Italian design with Swiss precision in collections like Serpenti and Octo Finissimo. Meanwhile, MB&F, established in 2005, has carved a niche with its boundary-pushing “Horological Machines” – three-dimensional timepieces inspired by science fiction, supercars, and nature.
Despite their contrasting design philosophies, a chance encounter between Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bvlgari’s director of watchmaking creation, and Maximilian Büsser, MB&F’s founder, found a common ground.
Their first collaboration in 2021, the MB&F x Bvlgari LM FlyingT Allegra, infused MB&F’s Legacy Machines with Bvlgari’s vibrant jewelry aesthetic. However, their second endeavor, the BVLGARI x MB&F Serpenti represents a far greater challenge which is transforming one of Bvlgari’s most historically significant motifs into a fully mechanical masterpiece.
Reinterpreting the Serpenti was no small feat. Traditionally, Bvlgari’s Serpenti watches embody fluid, jewelry-like elegance, but in MB&F’s hands, it became a complex kinetic sculpture. The collaboration demanded a complete re-engineering of the movement and an entirely new case design.
Unlike traditional round watch cases, the Serpenti’s sinuous form required an intricate structure, resulting in hundreds of design sketches and numerous 3D-printed prototypes before achieving perfection. The case, composed of five sapphire crystals, including a multi-faceted rear section posed immense manufacturing challenges, particularly in achieving water resistance up to 30 meters.
Inside, the timepiece houses an intricate movement that defies traditional watchmaking norms, entirely conceived and developed in-house by MB&F. Time is displayed through revolving hour and minute domes symbolizing the snake’s eyes crafted from solid aluminum to minimize weight, a feat achieved through advanced milling techniques.
The mechanical serpent’s “brain” is represented by a striking 14mm flying balance wheel, securely anchored by a three-dimensional balance bridge. Turning the watch over reveals the power reserve indicator alongside some of the 310 meticulously hand-finished components.
As one of the few brands preserving artisanal craftsmanship, MB&F ensures each piece is finished by hand, a rarity in modern horology. This meticulous process limits production to just six to eight Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti movements per month, underscoring their exclusivity.
Available in three distinct versions, the BVLGARI x MB&F Serpenti is limited to just 33 pieces per variant: a grade 5 titanium model with blue domes, an 18K rose gold version with piercing green eyes, and a black PVD-coated stainless steel edition featuring vibrant red eyes. The titanium and stainless steel models are priced at CHF 132,000 (US$ 148,000), while the gold edition commands CHF 152,000 (US$ 170,000).
