Bulgari: The MAGNIFICA New Collection of Secret Watches

June 9, 2021

By Katerina Perez

5 min read

Many contemporary high jewellery trends were set at the turn of the 20th century. Jewellery and precious home décor that concealed mechanisms of enhanced secrecy, accuracy and complexity, were especially chic, enchanting and remarkable. Historically, this trend has migrated to and become rooted in the art of watchmaking, combining functionality with aesthetics. Following in these footsteps, Bulgari has created a new high-end collection of secret watches called MAGNIFICA.

The Roman jewellery maison never ceases to amaze with its new timepieces, which I would sooner call “jewels that tell the time”. The Serpenti Misteriosi Cleopatra bracelet, which I wrote about just a couple of weeks ago, deserves to be described that way! The company, under the guidance of Fabrizio Buonamassa, CEO of Bulgari Product Creation, keeps proving to us that beauty, craftsmanship and inspiration can be transformed into outstanding works of art with breath-taking designs.

Bulgari High Jewellery Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

Bulgari High Jewellery Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery necklace with rubies and diamonds

Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery necklace with rubies and diamonds

From design to real life: the Bulgari High Jewellery Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

From design to real life: the Bulgari High Jewellery Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

Revealing the secret door that conceals the dial in the Bulgari Ruby Metamorphosis High Jewellery watch

Revealing the secret door that conceals the dial in the Bulgari Ruby Metamorphosis High Jewellery watch

The Bulgari High Jewellery Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch is set with a 6.3 carat cushion cut Mozambican ruby

The Bulgari High Jewellery Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch is set with a 6.3 carat cushion cut Mozambican ruby

It took Bulgari's craftsmen as many as 1,650 hours to create the Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

It took Bulgari's craftsmen as many as 1,650 hours to create the Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

Putting the finishing touches to a Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery necklace with rubies and diamonds

Putting the finishing touches to a Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery necklace with rubies and diamonds

Design details in the new Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery collection

Design details in the new Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery collection

Rubies from Mozambique were closen by Bulgari to evoke a "magnificent Italian sunset" within the MAGNIFICA collection

Rubies from Mozambique were closen by Bulgari to evoke a "magnificent Italian sunset" within the MAGNIFICA collection

Would it be an exaggeration to say that, through the MAGNIFICA collection, Bulgari’s craftsmen have outdone themselves? I think you will be able to answer that for yourself after taking a look at four of the new secret watches. Each of them fully embodies the iconic Bulgari style, combining bold designs, a notable heft, cabochons and the vibrant colours of various gemstones.

Drawings of new creations in the Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery collection, including the Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch (left)

Drawings of new creations in the Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery collection, including the Ruby Metamorphosis secret watch (left)

To start with, I would recommend inspecting the most expensive precious watch that Bulgari has ever produced: Ruby Metamorphosis. The centrepiece is a stunning 6.30-carat cushion cut Mozambican ruby, which Bulgari describes as “a magnificent Italian sunset” owing to its intense hues. It is this ruby that decorates the lid hiding the dial. Baguette-cut rubies and diamonds set on a platinum base provide the bracelet, which sensually wraps itself around the wrist with flexibility. It took the jewellers as many as 1,650 hours of painstaking work to create this masterpiece.

Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch and a necklace from the MAGNIFICA collection

Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch and a necklace from the MAGNIFICA collection

Celestial Sky celebrates Rome as a timeless source of inspiration for Bulgari. The bright blue oval 6 carat Sri Lankan sapphire, which stands out on this unusual platinum secret watch and hides the diamond dial, evokes the characteristic shades of the Roman sky. The curved shapes and bold size of the rigid cuff bracelet are inspired by sinuous Baroque motifs accentuated by tourmaline cabochons, baguette cut sapphires and diamonds.

Bulgari High Jewellery Celestial Sky secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

Bulgari High Jewellery Celestial Sky secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection

 The Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch contains diamonds, sapphires and tourmalines

The Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch contains diamonds, sapphires and tourmalines

 The Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch with Baroque motifs accentuated by tourmaline cabochons, baguette cut sapphires and diamonds

The Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch with Baroque motifs accentuated by tourmaline cabochons, baguette cut sapphires and diamonds

 Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch in the MAGNIFICA collection contains a 6 carat oval-cut Sri Lankan sapphire

Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch in the MAGNIFICA collection contains a 6 carat oval-cut Sri Lankan sapphire

 The dial of the Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch is set with a 6 carat Sri Lankan sapphire

The dial of the Bulgari Celestial Sky High Jewellery secret watch is set with a 6 carat Sri Lankan sapphire

The Baroque Spiral watch, made alongside a necklace of the same name, is also distinguished by the characteristic architectural and artistic features of the iconic style that is unique to Roman art. Spiral geometry, which symbolises life and evolution, has featured in the brand’s high jewellery designs on more than one occasion. The diamond curls are harmoniously intertwined with each other, creating organic forms, complemented here and there by cabochons of sapphires, rubies and emeralds. Rock crystal of incredible clarity, which covers the dial, also lends the watch a certain sophisticated air.

Designing the Bulgari Diamond Swan High Jewellery secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection with a 7 carat rock crystal dial cover

Designing the Bulgari Diamond Swan High Jewellery secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection with a 7 carat rock crystal dial cover

You will find the same bevelled quartz design on the only monochrome watch: Diamond Swan. As the name suggests, the design was inspired by the graceful snow-white bird. The bright flickers of the diamonds are accentuated by the matte shimmer of mother-of-pearl and enhanced with rock crystal. The miniature dial, inlaid with snow-white pavé, is hidden under a transparent cover made of a faceted, 7 carat rock crystal and is easy to read. The touching feminine splendour of this watch is heightened by a bracelet made of a cascade of ‘floating’ diamonds of various cuts. The difference between this model and other iconic diamond watches is that the focus is not on precious stones, but on an expressive design, one of my favourites, that creates the illusion of stones floating above the wrist.

Bulgari Baroque Spiral High Jewellery secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection with cabochons of sapphires, emeralds and rubies

Bulgari Baroque Spiral High Jewellery secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection with cabochons of sapphires, emeralds and rubies

 Bulgari Diamond Swan High Jewellery secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection with diamonds, mother of pearl and rock crystal

Bulgari Diamond Swan High Jewellery secret watch from the MAGNIFICA collection with diamonds, mother of pearl and rock crystal

 Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery collection necklaces, including 'The Diamond Swan' creation (left)

Bulgari MAGNIFICA High Jewellery collection necklaces, including 'The Diamond Swan' creation (left)

Time is perhaps the most valuable resource that can never be replenished. MAGNIFICA masterpieces gracefully remind us of eternity and timeless values that are worthy of your precious minutes.

TOP 5: Discover our Favourite New Everyday Jewellery Collections

continue reading

Haute Couture 2025: The Unconventional Lines of the Vhernier Ardis High Jewellery Collection 

Let's take a closer look at the pieces that launched at Paris Haute Couture week, including the sculptural necklaces we simply couldn't leave without photographing.

by Sarah Jordan

Haute Couture 2025: The 70s Depths of the Piaget Shapes of Extraleganza High Jewellery Collection

Through the Piaget Society, a circle of artists, collectors and freethinkers, the Maison helped shape the cultural zeitgeist of the 1970s.

by Claire Roberts

Haute Couture Week 2025: The Gentle Flutter of Mikimoto Les Pétales High Jewellery

Let’s take a closer look at some of the aristocratic highlights of this latest Mikimoto offering…

by Sarah Jordan

Elevated Expression: Examining The Jade Dynasty Collection by Austy Lee

Austy Lee is someone we return to time and again here at KaterinaPerez.com, largely because the designer's work never fails to impress. Let's hear what he has to say on China's most emblematic mineral…

by Sarah Jordan

Haute Couture 2025: The Biggest High Jewellery Trends to Emerge from Paris 

Transformability was a recurring theme, as were bold uses of colour, sculptural silhouettes and rare gemstones with compelling stories. Here are the key trends that defined the 2025 high jewellery season.

by Joshua Hendren

Flower Power: The Uplifting Energy of Jewels in Full Bloom 

Florals have long been a favourite in fine jewellery, and they never lose their charm. This year’s Couture show in Las Vegas proved just how inventive floral jewellery can be, bursting with colour, craftsmanship, and imagination

by Hirshi Sujanti

You’ve Got the Moves: Kinetic Jewellery with Moving Elements

Sometimes, at the Couture Show, you encounter a trend that feels perfectly attuned to the times we’re living in. This year in Las Vegas, that trend was movement. Or, more precisely, moving elements that speak to that very human desire to keep our hands busy, our senses engaged, and our minds soothed.

by Claire Roberts

Verified in Vegas: The Biggest Jewellery Trends of the Couture Show 2025

The Couture Show presents a curated view of the best in craftsmanship, design, fresh ideas and originality, which is why it’s such a vital place to forecast the ‘next big thing’. Here’s what I have gleaned from this year’s State-side events

by Sarah Jordan

Instant Charm: Celebrating New Creations with Karina Choudhrie Jewels

Let's take a closer look at the latest pieces that have emerged from Karina's incredible imagination…

by Katerina Perez

Key Facts About Gold: An Ancient Symbol of Power and Luxury

In an age where digital currencies rise and fall, gold remains a universal symbol of stability, beauty, and lasting worth. It is worn on the skin, locked in vaults, and passed down through generations as a living legacy.

by Hirshi Sujanti

Little Legends: The History and Power of Pinky Rings

Pinky rings have long carried cultural weight - from Ancient Mesopotamian seals to Egyptian signets and Japanese kamon heirlooms. Today, the style is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to contemporary designers and a growing list of high-profile wearers, including Meghan Markle, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski

by Joshua Hendren

Forever in Bloom: The Timeless Charm of Flowers in Jewellery

Flowers may fade in a vase, but flowers in jewellery—they bloom eternally

by Hirshi Sujanti

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Epic Evolution:Miseno Launches the Arco Collection to Celebrate a Fabulous Decade

I am pleased to present to you my highlights of the new Arco High Jewellery collection, which was formally showcased to the jewellery world at Couture from June 4-8, 2025

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

In Conversation:Discussing Paraiba - The Legacy of a Color

with Vogue Singapore

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.