Bulgari and MB&F Unveil Spectacular New ‘Serpenti’ Watch
In an exciting collaboration, luxury jeweler Bulgari and avant-garde Swiss watchmaker MB&F have revealed a remarkable reinterpretation of Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti watch.
This unique timepiece, named the "Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti," integrates Bulgari’s historic serpent motif, first launched in 1948, with MB&F’s innovative mechanical craftsmanship. It marks the first-ever genderless edition of the legendary Serpenti collection, timed perfectly with the Year of the Snake in the 2025 Chinese lunar calendar.
The watch is a marvel of technical precision and artistic ingenuity, featuring a serpent’s head-shaped case powered by an advanced MB&F caliber. The intricately curved case required highly complex manufacturing processes, including the use of five-axis 3D milling machines to create and fit five sapphire crystals, each meticulously treated to minimize reflection and ensure water resistance up to 30 meters.
Maximilian Büsser, founder of MB&F, described the watch’s biomorphic design as one of the most challenging and ambitious projects they've undertaken. Its movement was entirely developed by MB&F, including the distinctive “snake’s eyes” composed of aluminum domes indicating hours and minutes—each dome meticulously milled and treated with Super-LumiNova to glow in the dark.
At the heart of the watch is an oversized 14mm flying balance wheel—symbolizing the serpent’s "brain"—and visible through a 3D-structured balance bridge engraved with the "Bulgari x MB&F" branding. Featuring separate crowns for winding and setting the time discreetly located within the rear lugs, the design ensures both beauty and functionality.
Due to the complex hand-crafted nature of the design, MB&F’s artisans produce only six to eight movements each month. Limited to a total of 99 pieces, each watch requires more than a year from order to delivery. The Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti is offered in three exclusive versions of 33 pieces each: a titanium case with blue domes, an 18-karat rose gold version with green domes, and a striking black PVD-coated stainless steel model featuring red domes.
This isn’t the first creative collaboration between Bulgari and MB&F. The two brands previously worked together in 2021 on the successful "MB&F x Bulgari LM FlyingT Allegra," combining the vivid gemstones of Bulgari with MB&F's intricate horological machines.
Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari Group, described this partnership as a "magical fusion" between extraordinary mechanical skill and innovative aesthetics, emphasizing the importance of creative risks and bold initiatives in luxury watchmaking.
Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari’s director of watchmaking creation, praised the collaboration as a breakthrough, noting it offered a fresh, technical perspective on Bulgari’s iconic serpent motif. He called the project a "win-win," uniting MB&F’s mechanical expertise with Bulgari’s timeless aesthetic sensibilities.
The Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti represents a remarkable achievement, bridging tradition and innovation in luxury watch design, destined to become a treasured collectible.