Tickle your fancy with the feathers of Bulgari’s Divas’ Dream Peacock

Fergus Nash

• The Bulgari Divas’ Dream Peacock collection is infused with the bird’s beauty and confidence.
• Two of the references include natural peacock feathers inlaid on the dial.
• The shapes of marquetry are inspired by mosaics from Rome’s Baths of Caracalla.

In Latin, the word diva translates to goddess. Over the centuries, the term was used for the most glamorous, talented women in theatre and the arts, linked to extravagance and glory. Bulgari’s Divas’ Dream collection transcends the concept of both high jewellery and watchmaking, creating artworks that can turn anyone who wears them into a true diva. Full of powerful symbolism and even real peacock feathers, Bulgari have released five new references spanning intricate designs and complications.

Bulgari have a concept they call “Animali Fantastici”, and you can probably guess what that translates into. Within it, the snake, or Serpenti, embodies seduction and mystery, while the peacock (Pavone) represents beauty and confidence. It’s a little ironic that the decorative peacocks who are all male birds have become such a symbol for feminine beauty, but there’s nothing stopping men from wearing these watches either.

Of the five new references, two of the new Bulgari Divas’ Dream watches use natural peacock feathers on the dial itself, which is something they’ve been doing since the 1970s. The feathers are individually treated before being flattened out into a patterned fabric, from which the dial shapes can be cut out and inlaid. The Divas’ Dream Peacock Dischi is particularly spectacular, arranging blue-green sections in a bursting star shape and saving the yellow-orange “eye” for the dial’s centre. Both of these sections spin, and while the inner section uses a round diamond to indicate the hours, the outer section has a pear-shaped one for the minutes.

The Divas’ Dream Peacock Feather Marquetry is the other watch, with the feathers placed in a fan-like tapestry beneath traditional watch hands. The 18k rose gold case is also allowed to shine a little bit more than the Dischi, as it’s only set with diamonds around the edges.

The remaining three watches are anything but afterthoughts, using stone marquetry to depict peacocks in various colours and poses. Some of the shapes used to make up the peacock’s feathers are a tribute to the mosaic floor of the Roman Baths of Caracalla, linking Bulgari closer to their Italian homeland. The Divas’ Dream Peacock Precious Marquetry Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes may have the most long-winded name of the lot, but it’s also the most spectacular. Up against a backdrop of aventurine glass, the peacock is formed out of malachite, more aventurine, diamonds, rose gold, and an emerald as the peacock’s eye. Above its head, there’s a window for the jump-hours display, with a golden arrow indicating the minutes across the retrograde section above that.

The final two references are perhaps the most humble of the bunch, but they’re still lavish in every sense. The Divas’ Dream Peacock Mother-of-Pearl Marquetry uses blue-hued shells with rippling textures to make a bird which almost looks made of water, and radiant lines emanating from it. The Divas’ Dream Peacock Diamonds lives up to its name with a hand-painted fowl set with diamonds, plus a dazzling golden bracelet which carries 1,452 diamonds alone.

Bulgari Divas’ Dream Peacock collection pricing and availability

The Bulgari Divas’ Dream Peacock collection is now available from Bulgari retailers.

Prices (US$ prices ex. VAT):
A$43,400, US$27,700 (Feather Marquetry, Mother-of-pearl Marquetry)
A$120,000, US$69,000 (Divas’ Dream Peacock Dischi)
A$183,000, US$105,000 (Divas’ Dream Peacock Diamonds)
A$202,000, US$117,000 (Precious Marquetry Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes)

Brand	Bulgari
Model	Divas’ Dream Peacock Feather Marquetry Divas’ Dream Peacock Mother-of-pearl Marquetry Divas’ Dream Peacock Precious Marquetry Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes Divas’ Dream Peacock Dischi Divas’ Dream Peacock Diamonds
Reference Number	103767 103769 103784 103473 103348
Case Dimensions	33mm (D) (103767, 103769) 37mm (D) (103784, 103473, 103348)
Case Material	18k rose gold, diamonds
Water Resistance	30 metres 50 metres (103784 only)
Crystal(s)	Sapphire
Dial	Peacock feather marquetry, mother-of-pearl, stone mosaic
Strap	Coloured alligator, 18k rose gold hardware 18k rose gold bracelet, folding buckle (103348 only)
Movement	Quartz (103767, 103769) BVL 262, in-house, automatic (103784) BVL 308, in-house, automatic (103473) BVL 191, in-house, automatic (103348)
Power Reserve	42 hours (all movements)
Functions	Hours, minutes (103767, 103769) Jumping hours, retrograde minutes (103784) Disc hours and minutes (103473) Hours, minutes, seconds (103348)
Availability	Now
Price	A$43,400, US$27,700 (Feather Marquetry, Mother-of-pearl Marquetry) A$120,000, US$69,000 (Divas’ Dream Peacock Dischi) A$183,000, US$105,000 (Divas’ Dream Peacock Diamonds) A$202,000, US$117,000 (Precious Marquetry Jumping Hours and Retrograde Minutes)