More power to the Serpenti
The Hindu
Antoine Pin, head of the watch division at Bulgari, on the Serpenti Misteriosi’s new mechanical micro-caliber and what he really thinks about the industry’s unisex approach
Last week’s LVMH Watch Week saw Bulgari’s ‘serpent with a secret’, the Serpenti Misteriosi, return with a new mechanical micro-caliber. The ultimate power piece, it comes with the back-winding and back-setting caliber BVL 100, possibly the smallest round caliber in the market today. There are four references, with the flexible modular construction sporting brilliant-cut diamonds and gold, and pear-cut emeralds or rubellites for the eyes. The fact that Bulgari created a whole new micro-caliber for these watches - when the quartz movement is more convenient for secret watches - reflects a more thoughtful approach to the high-jewellery watch.
This time around, the forked tongue lever reveals the hidden instrument, and by reversing the side, you can wear the watch on your right or left hand. This easy access to the caliber also helps with post-sales service, without damaging the watch.