Turn Of The Century

Bvlgari’s new feminine watches best encapsulate its identity as a jeweller and watchmaker. Not merely beautiful, they are also lavished with technical details, observes MELAINNE CHIEW.

- Melainne Chiew

TO MARK THE 100th anniversary since its first jewellery watch, Bvlgari’s new feminine watches offer more than meets the eye. Headlining the reveal at Baselworld were two exciting additions to the Lvcea family: Lvcea Tubogas and Lvcea Skeleton. The spotlight was also on the breathtaking (and technically beautiful) Divas’ Dream, as well as the illustrious Serpenti, which notably honoured its heritage with a striking new tri-coloured edition.

The new Lvcea Tubogas is the first design that fuses the Lvcea watch and the Tubogas bracelet. Introduced in a watch in the 1940s, the Tubogas bracelet, which means “gas pipe”, is a complex production. It features unsoldered bands of gold or steel wrapped tightly around a steel core, concealing it completely. Once more often associated with the Serpenti in the guise of seductive, snake-like coils, the Tubogas bracelet now perks up the elegant round face of the Lvcea with its industrial-chic aesthetic. Available in five variants of steel, 18k rose gold and diamonds, the modern interpretation is powered by a proprietary Calibre B046 quartz movement in the 28mm models, or an automatic Calibre B77 in the 33mm versions. All five new Lvcea Tubogas iterations flaunt diamond hour markers and a crown set with a pink cabochon-cut gemstone.