The Serpenti v.2: Bulgari & MB&F's Futuristic Snake Watch

Okay, let’s be real for a second: the word "icon" gets thrown around way too much in the watch world. But when we're talking about the Bulgari Serpenti, that one definitely deserves it. The snake-inspired design has been with us throughout decades of watchmaking history. Now, Bulgari has teamed up with MB&F again to create a Serpenti that certainly takes a different path than what we’re used to.

Source: Hodinkee

The Backstory: Two Legends, One Crazy Idea

If you don't know MB&F, think of them as the watchmakers who said, "Why not?" and then went on to create mechanical art pieces that look like spaceships and jellyfish. Bulgari, on the other hand, has been perfecting its jewelry-meets-timepiece game for decades. Their last collab gave us a gem-set beauty. This time, we’re looking at something entirely different.

The idea came when Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari's design mastermind, saw MB&F's HM10 Bulldog. That watch has domed time displays that look like cartoonish eyes. Fabrizio had a genius idea: "What if we turned this into a snake's head?"

Source: Hodinkee

First Impressions: A Snake or a Supercar?

The first time we saw the new Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti, we couldn’t help but be genuinely surprised. From above, it looks sleek and mysterious, like a sports car hood with a weirdly hypnotic vibe. But the moment you catch a side view, it clicks: the snake's head is right there, complete with fang-shaped lugs.

The case comes in three versions: polished titanium, black PVD-coated stainless steel, and 18k rose gold. And the eyes are actually domed displays for hours and minutes. Green eyes for the gold model, blue for titanium, and red for the black version.

Source: Hodinkee

The Movement: A Mechanical Brain

When you peek through the top crystal, you'll see a massive, floating balance wheel ticking away. It's like watching a tiny mechanical heart beating right in front of you. The movement is manual, but winding it somehow makes half the fun of the entire experience.

Now let's talk about the crowns for a second. There are two: one for setting the time and one for winding the movement. They’re positioned at 11 and 1 o’clock, kind of like little snake nostrils if you're feeling imaginative.

 

Wearability: Big But Surprisingly Comfortable

On paper, this watch sounds massive: 39mm wide, 53mm from top to bottom, and 18mm thick. That's chunky by any standard. But when strapped on, it's surprising how well it sits on the wrist. The fangs (which double as lugs) curve nicely, and the rubber strap with its velcro closure feels sportier than you'd expect from something this high-end.

Source: Hodinkee

The "Snake Factor": Does It Work?

We’ll be honest: the snake design might not click immediately for everyone. From some angles, it feels more like a streamlined car dashboard than a reptile's head. But then you catch the "eyes" staring back at you, and it suddenly makes sense. It’s a snake, just a very futuristic one.

Source: Hodinkee

The Verdict: A Watch for the Bold

This Serpenti isn't trying to be an everyday timepiece. It's bold, quirky, and mechanical in a way that MB&F fans will appreciate. If you love the elegance of a classic Serpenti but always wished it had a bit more edge, this might be your dream watch.

There’s a problem though. Only 99 pieces will be made - 33 in each material. And the price tag is just as eye-catching as the watch itself: about €137,000 for the steel and titanium versions, and €158,000 for the rose gold.