Modern-day world traveller meets timeless music legend.
The BVLGARI Aluminium GMT riffs with the Stratocaster, the iconic guitar created by Fender in 1954. All 1200 pieces of the BVLGARI Aluminium GMT x Fender® Limited Edition echo the original Stratocaster’s livery with a sunburst finish and creamy white hue.
At the end of August, 140 exclusive anniversary sets will be available, as will 70 custom guitars handcrafted by the artisans at the Fender Custom Shop – both are set to thrill collectors worldwide.
Together, they celebrate a legacy of excellence and creativity.
Born in 1998, the BVLGARI Aluminium has made its mark in the realm of luxury sports watches, revolutionizing the canon. Bold by design, with the distinctive BVLGARI BVLGARI double logo on the bezel, it was just as daring with the choice of materials: aluminium and rubber. Graphic style and Italian flair come together in defining its intense, sporty-chic character, and generation-transcending coolness. The GMT version, reimagined in this limited edition through the lens of the iconic Fender Stratocaster, invites you to experience the emotion of travel.
A different realm, yet that same pioneering spirit and knack for capturing the zeitgeist. “Artists are angels, and our job is to give them wings to fly” – with the Stratocaster, Leo Fender’s motto truly comes alive. The powerful name evokes a legendary guitar that has shaped music history over seven decades, celebrated for its superb comfort and warm, crystalline sounds.
Each Anniversary Stratocaster, crafted in collaboration with Bvlgari, is made to order by the Fender Custom Shop. The master luthiers in this legendary workshop create bespoke instruments for the most discerning musicians. From material selection to handcrafted fabrication, finishing, and fine-tuning, their unique expertise requires a degree of skill and extreme attention to detail akin to the art of watchmaking. Designed to last generations, these extraordinary guitars forge a strong bond among enthusiasts, building a community across time and borders.
BVLGARI Aluminium GMT x Fender® Limited Edition: a tribute to craftsmanship and emotion
Bvlgari, a Swiss watchmaker with a deeply Roman soul, expresses the essence of Italian style through exceptional timepieces. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), the world’s leading guitar manufacturer, takes the art of customisation to the highest level through the craftsmanship and innovation of the Fender Custom Shop. These two iconic Maisons have naturally united around their passion for creating unique objects, with meticulous skill and precision, and their shared ability to inspire and connect through extraordinary instruments passed down through generations. Bvlgari and Fender Custom Shop celebrate BVLGARI Aluminium and the Stratocaster, two timeless design icons that have become cultural symbols, in homage to the 70th anniversary of the legendary Stratocaster.
“As enthusiasts of both horology and music, we naturally joined up with Fender for a collaboration that transcends aesthetics; it’s a celebration of heritage, design and innovation” says Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari. “This collaboration is the fusion of two iconic legacies. The BVLGARI Aluminium GMT x Fender® Limited Edition watch is a precision instrument, close to a finely tuned guitar. It features advanced GMT functionality for tracking time across time zones, reflecting the dynamic lifestyle of musicians and travelers alike. Housed in our iconic aluminum and titanium case, this limited edition symbolizes a harmonious journey through time and sound.”
In tribute to the legendary Stratocaster, the BVLGARI Aluminium GMT takes the stage in the original colors of this iconic guitar. The sunburst finish – a nod to one of Fender’s signature lacquered looks – and the same creamy white hue bring this limited-edition of 1200 watches to life. The brown rubber bezel, the second time zone – dark brown for nighttime and creamy white for daytime hours – and the rhodium-plated and polished indices and hands, reminiscent of guitar frets, attune the BVLGARI Aluminium GMT to with the legendary Stratocaster. Backstage, the Swiss mechanical calibre keeps time across the world. Bvlgari also redesigned the model’s Velcro strap, for a perfect fit even during the most intense riffs. The ‘Fender®’ inscription on the DLC-coated titanium case back underscores the incredible power of music to unite and resonate, day and night, across the globe.
Exclusive Watch Set and Guitar
To mark this 70th anniversary, Bvlgari has created a special BVLGARI Aluminium GMT x Fender® Limited Edition set, and Fender Custom Shop has crafted a limited series of just 70 Fender® Custom Shop Limited Edition Bulgari Stratocaster® guitars – exceptional creations intended especially for their historic collector communities.
“The Stratocaster has been at the forefront of musical progress and sonic exploration for the last 70 years, and to celebrate its anniversary, we wanted to partner with a brand with a similarly rich history in its respective field,” said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product, FMIC. “With that in mind, we couldn’t be prouder to unveil this collaboration with Bvlgari. The resulting Stratocaster and watch are stunning, and we’re sure fans of both brands will be very excited by the prospect of adding them to their collections.”
On August 30th, 2024, Bvlgari will launch the limited series BVLGARI Aluminium GMT x Fender® Limited Edition with 140 sets (70 for each of the two time zones on the BVLGARI Aluminium GMT). These will comprise the limited edition BVLGARI Aluminium GMT watch, its bespoke case whose design was inspired by iconic guitar cases, and a book tracing the 70-year history of the Stratocaster.
Additionally, Fender will create, upon request, 70 Stratocasters in collaboration with BVLGARI at their Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California. Each of these unique guitars, handcrafted by the finest artisans at the Fender Custom Shop, will showcase the exceptional quality of these instruments. Their glossy lacquer finish revives the vintage aesthetic of the original model – the same colours featured in the BVLGARI Aluminium GMT x Fender® Limited Edition.
