The peacock loves to bask in admiration as it radiates seductive appeal and charms on lookers. Its regal splendour makes it a natural-born diva. But the bird also conveys a wealth of symbolism - fertility, immortality - and has been repeatedly represented in countless guises for more than four thousand years.
Deploying creativity nurtured by this longstanding historical legacy, Bulgari now interprets this emblem while placing it in the centre of the Divas’ Dream dial of three new pieces. This is an entirely natural choice, since this sensual watch with its highly distinctive character draws inspiration from the fan-shaped mosaics of the Caracalla thermal baths, which also portray peacocks.
The first version, set against an aventurine glass backdrop, represents the night. It displays the peacock in all its glorious majesty, hand-painted with meticulous partitions evoking the precious Roman mosaics in blue shades echoing the dial. This refined and precise work requires 20 hours to apply the 14 colours needed to complete this dial. The pristine radiance of the 37mm-diameter white gold case, its bezel and its diamond-set lugs, the deep blue alligator leather strap and the sapphire set on the winding crown, form a unique and harmonious chromatic ensemble that highlights the peacock motif.
A representation of the day, the stately second piece reveals the full splendour of the bird against a mother-of-pearl background, beneath diamond stars. The pink gold and likewise 37mm case is also fitted with a blue alligator leather strap. Each of these slender and precious watches is adorned with a total of 135 diamonds, entirely in keeping with the jewellery creations from the Rome-based Maison. In both versions, the watch is driven by the mechanical self-winding movement Calibre BVL 191, with hours, minutes, and 42-hour power reserve, developed by the Manufacture.
The third timepiece is powered by the mechanical manual-winding skeleton tourbillon Calibre BVL 208, with hours and minutes, and 64-hour power-reserve indication. This watch festures a major horological complication along with exceptional artistic skills and their combination highlights light and transparency thanks to the fully chased and openwork movement. Diamond setting and hand-painted peacock motifs compose a unified whole, within which the majestic bird becomes an integral part of the openworked finishing of the movement that is clearly visible through the two sapphire crystals.
The watch, which is a 50-piece limited edition, is fitted with an elegant blue alligator leather strap with 18kt pink gold pin buckle.
