Bvlgari & MB&F Reimagine the Iconic Serpenti

Collaborations in watchmaking often bring together the creativity of a brand and its chosen partner, whether they be artists, athletes, or designers. However, it’s far rarer to see two well-known watchmaking powerhouses join forces. The partnership between Bvlgari and MB&F is a fascinating case, as both brands serve as creative forces in the industry with anything they put their hands on.

Their latest collaboration, the Bvlgari x MB&F Serpenti, follows their 2021 partnership, which resulted in the MB&F x Bvlgari LM FlyingT Allegra launched at Dubai Watch Week. This time, the two brands reinterpret Bvlgari’s iconic Serpenti through the mechanical artistry of MB&F’s horological machines, merging biomorphic design with high-complication watchmaking in a way that only they can.

Glossary

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Glossary
Barrel

Barrel

A barrel is a hollow, cylindrical metal component in mechanical watches, sealed with a lid, surrounded by a ring of gears. The barrel serves as the energy storage unit, powered either by manual winding (via the watch’s crown) or by the movement of the wearer’s wrist in automatic watches. This stored energy is essential for operating the watch's movement.

Barrel Mechanism Explained

1. Mainspring:

The barrel houses the mainspring, a coiled spring that stores potential energy when wound.
One end of the mainspring is attached to the barrel, while the other end is fixed to the mainspring arbor.

2. Winding:

As the mainspring tightens, it accumulates potential energy.
Energy is stored in the mainspring by winding the watch manually via the crown or automatically through an automatic winding mechanism.

3. Power Reserve:

The stored energy in the mainspring is gradually released as it unwinds.
This energy powers the watch movement and keeps the hands moving.

4. Connection to the Gear Train:

The barrel transmits energy to the watch’s gear train, a series of gears that control the flow of energy.
This rotational force drives the escapement and moves the hands of the watch with precision.