Sneak Peek: Bulgari for Baselworld 2012

Italian fine jeweler and watch manufacture Bulgari has unveiled two stunning creations ahead of this year's Baselworld in March - a new Serpenti featuring an enamel coiled bracelet set with diamonds, and Bulgari Papillon Voyageur, a complication from Daniel Roth.

The 2012 variation of the Bulgari Serpenti is crafted from 18-carat gold, and retains the signature diaphanous double wrap-around structure, sheathed in jet-black or eggshell-white enamelled scales set with brilliant-cut diamonds. In its single-coil version, the scales are made of diamond-set pink gold.

Forming a natural extension of the bracelet, the case shaped like a snake’s head houses a Swiss quartz movement personalised for Bulgari, set on either side with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.6 cts) framing a black sapphire or white mother-of-pearl dial graced with 12 diamond-set hour-markers.

These sophisticated functions are driven by an in-house mechanical self-winding movement beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and endowed with a 45-hour power reserve. The refined mechanism is treated to excellent finishing featuring meticulously hand-crafted circular graining and Côtes de Genève. The visible parts of the movement are satin-brushed, bevelled and polished, as are the screw heads.

Housed within a slightly cambered double-ellipse 18-carat pink gold case that is water-resistant to 30 metres, the timepiece is fitted with a domed sapphire crystal that is glare-proofed on both sides, and an alligator leather strap with a pink gold triple-blade folding clasp.