Training Day
MANILA, Philippines - I’m in sunny Singapore with a group of journalists for a regional press trip with Bulgari and we’re dressed in loose jersey shirts, training shorts, and trainers. Not exactly high fashion (and to be honest, not the outfit I had in mind when dressing up for an Italian luxury label) but the sportif dress code served a purpose — we’re going to participate in an exclusive training clinic at The Cage Sports Park in Turf City with defending World Rugby Cup champions, the New Zealand All Blacks.
Hold up, how did the most successful international rugby team of all-time get involved in the haute horological world of Bulgari? Let’s backtrack: In 2011, Bulgari and the All Blacks officially announced their partnership, marked by the unveiling of the Endurer Chronosprint All Blacks Special Edition and the donation of a unique, specially-engraved timepiece to raise funds for victims of the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand. In 2014, to celebrate the 130th anniversary of both prestigious teams, the sleek Octo All Blacks watch was launched. And just last year, a special edition Octo All Blacks 100 Club timepiece was presented to the longest-serving players and management of the legendary team. Of course, while storied jewelry houses are not normally associated with rough contact sports, Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin explains that their partnership with the All Blacks is actually a fitting collaboration as both world-class teams share the same values of passion, excellence and high performance to excel in their respective fields.
Back at the pitch, three All Blacks athletes (who flew to The Lion City with the rest of the Kiwi team for the Singapore leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series) gave participants a quick but spirited training session involving drills, sprints, and leg circuits. Delicious eats care of a special Bulgari x All Blacks food truck and gelato cart were also on-site, making for ideal post-workout snacks. Later that evening, the Rome-based brand brought us to the Empress restaurant in Asian Civilizations Museum to showcase their latest watch collection, which was recently launched at this year’s Baselworld, the world’s leading watch and jewelry show. The event also marked the Singapore debut of the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater timepiece, which packs quite a punch even in its ultra-thin frame. In fact, it currently holds two world records — the thinnest minute repeater and minute repeater movement — and weighs just 43 grams. Capping off the event is the presentation of Bulgari-Save The Children rings (whose sales have raised more than USD 42 million and improved the lives of more than 1 million beneficiaries in 29 countries around the world) to the players in attendance, all proudly sporting their ambassador timepieces of course.
On the pitch or off it, the collaboration between the two powerhouses is a sure winner. Talk about #goals.
Back To Black
The art of watchmaking meets the science of sport; we take a closer look at the features of this striking timeteller.
Snake charmers
Considered a symbol of wisdom, life, and eternity in mythology, the serpent has become a signature (not to mention visually arresting) motif for Bulgari since its introduction to the brand in the late 1940s. Slither on the storied bandwagon and dress up your wrists with the latest jewelry watch models of the Rome-based brand’s iconic Serpenti line.
Serpenti Incantati
Introduced at this year’s Baselworld, the Serpenti Incantati — Italian for Enchanted Snake — is the newest design offering in the Maison’s snake-themed series. While classic styles usually feature the animal’s sinewy body spiraling around the wrist, the latest edition has the bejeweled reptile coiling around the watch dial for the first time. The Incantati comes in four forms, available in either rubelite or diamond versions.
Serpenti Spiga
The Serpenti Spiga is an amalgamation of two Bulgari design trademarks — the Serpenti and the Tubogas. The main draw of the Tubogas, a technique referencing the contemporary, industrial aesthetic of flexible piping in sports car exhaust manifolds during the Art Deco period, is the bracelet’s seamless double-wrap feature. This version comes with a black ceramic bracelet, a diamond-set gold bezel, and a golden tail tip — nods to Bulgari’s mastery of precious stones and metals.
Limited edition Serpenti
Go for gold: A limited edition Serpenti design was also introduced as an homage to the motif’s ever-evolving nature in its over 60-year history. With a diamond-set timepiece concealed on the serpent’s mouth and emeralds for eyes, the lacquered double wrap-around jewelry watch is a stunning testament to the luxury brand’s technical and creative expertise.
