Ten years is a long time in watchmaking. Brands have been established and folded, and watch collections have emerged and gotten canned with frightening ruthlessness. When Bvlgari proclaimed that it had decoded its unique expression of feminine horology with the Lvcea back in 2014—a category that many have tried to conquer with little success—women watch lovers justifiably wondered if the collection could stand the test of time.
The benefit of hindsight tell us that the answer is ‘yes’. More than that, it also illustrates how the Lvcea collection has won over the hearts of customers from the outset, and cultivated an affection that lasts.
The Lvcea owes its success to an assured sense of identity; it doesn’t try to be a watch that it isn’t. Where some feminine timepieces aim to excel in mechanical complexity and bejewelled sophistication (a commendable effort, it must be said), but falling short of both, the Lvcea makes its proposition very clear. “It’s about capturing the best of both worlds, merging substance with style, at the nexus of high watchmaking and high jewellery,” explains Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari.
The Lvcea is designed as a homage to Rome, the birthplace of Bvlgari, and also to express the luxury house’s jewellery-making roots. The sophisticated dress watch is recognised by its distinctive V-shaped crown topped with a cabochon-cut synthetic sapphire on a classic round case, tiny sword-shaped hands, and supple bracelet with polished links.
For the collection’s 10th anniversary, Bvlgari rolls out new iterations that accentuate the Lvcea’s versality and glamour. Beyond the sublime shimmer of precious stones and alloys, the new Lvcea watches are engineered to feel more comfortable on the wrist. The bracelet, especially, has been redesigned with rounded V-shaped links to drape softly while accentuating the collection’s inimitable character.
“The new bracelet is infused with a lightness reminiscent of Bvlgari’s classic jewels, a sensuality akin to that exuded by our iconic Serpenti collection, and a flexibility evoking the fluid links of Octo Finissimo,” says Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bvlgari’s product creation executive director.
Offered in a choice of 33mm or 28mm case, and driven by an automatic movement and quartz calibre, respectively, the latest Lvcea watches are characteristically dainty while exuding subtle opulence. One version, available in rose gold or steel, features iridescent mother-of-pearl dials. The dial’s sunray pattern is crafted using the Intarsia technique, whereby artisans assemble individual strips of finely cut mother-of-pearl to create a sunburst pattern with three-dimensional pleating.
The second model comes with a green malachite marquetry dial, inspired by watches that featured coloured stones from the 1960s. Here, the dial is made up of tiny pieces of malachite, carefully selected for their hue and expressiveness, and fastidiously cut and assembled by hand.
“These watches express the essence of our jeweller’s soul,” explains Babin. “Bvlgari’s heritage is rooted in the art of bringing gold and precious stones together, with extreme precision, to create exceptional pieces.”
Photography by Bvlgari
