Against all odds, the two polar opposites found common ground, and created something well beyond extraordinary.

In a surprise collaboration that shouldn’t make sense but does, luxury Italian jeweller Bulgari has teamed up with independent atelier MB&F on a limited edition timepiece where sci-fi fantasy meets haute joaillerie mastery. The Roman maison has been on a streak of creative collaborations lately, working with the likes of artists, fashion designers, architects, DJs, and even NFT creators on multiple new product launches. But this tie-up with MB&F is a little different, because it’s the first time Bulgari has collaborated with another watch company.

Likewise, MB&F is no stranger to collaborations. Indeed, the atelier was founded on the premise of collaborations. That said, it already had an earlier experience co-creating a timepiece with another watch company, fellow independent H. Moser & Cie. As a matter of fact, this also isn’t the first time MB&F collaborated with a legacy jeweller. The atelier’s first official dalliance with the high jewellery universe goes back to 2010 when it roped in French maison Boucheron to create a bejewelled version of the HM3 that came to be known as the JWLRYMACHINE.

Together, Bulgari and MB&F present the Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra which honours the signature three-dimensional complexity of an MB&F watch yet also imbuing it with the creative sensibilities that define Bulgari as a jeweller. Very subtly, the case has been redesigned such that it looks sleeker and more futuristic than the original FlyingT. Those lugs have all but disappeared, giving the Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra a flying saucer-like appearance especially when viewed from the side.

Bulgari’s gem-setting expertise obviously cannot be ignored in this high jewellery watch. The maison is known for its love of coloured stones, particularly large cabochon cut ones, which implies extreme clarity while placing emphasis on opulence.

Here, it surrounds the Legacy Machine’s stunning elevated flying tourbillon with precious gemstones in an array of bold colours. Tourmalines, tsavorites, rubellites, amethysts, tanzanites, and topazes recall the lavish style of Bulgari’s classic Allegra high jewellery watch, while snow-set white diamonds provide a shimmering backdrop.

The MB&F X Bulgari Legacy Machine FlyingT Allegra comes in rose gold or white gold, limited to 20 pieces per edition.