Finish inspired by haute horlogerie, referencing client’s Vacheron Constantin timepiece
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly introduces the Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail – a magnificent bespoke creation that pays homage to the client’s cultural roots, family legacy, and personal interests.
Inspired by the amethyst gem, which holds special significance as the birthstone of the client’s son, the Amethyst Droptail embodies qualities of purity, clarity, and resilience. It stands as a pinnacle of applied art, commissioned by a patron whose family business has evolved from a gemstone boutique into a multinational enterprise with diverse ventures. This exceptional motor car reflects the client’s appreciation for understated artistry and subtle embellishments.
This stunning expression of Rolls-Royce Droptail truly captures the soul of its commissioning client. This distinguished and international individual exemplifies connoisseurship, and their global outlook, refined tastes and deep-rooted heritage were a broadening pleasure to explore. The extraordinary projection of their spirit, captured in Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail, is a clear statement of Rolls-Royce Coachbuild’s intent: to collaborate profoundly as a means to produce an historic expression of applied art. It is the client’s personal involvement that gives Coachbuild motor cars their unparalleled strength of character. These products reflect an exceptional clarity of vision, executed with absolute conviction. Amethyst Droptail captures these virtues in extremis.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The Amethyst Droptail draws inspiration from the Globe Amaranth wildflower, found in the desert near one of the client’s residences, to shape its exterior aesthetics. The dual-tone paint finish mirrors the various stages of the flower’s bloom. The main body color, “Globe Amaranth,” is a gentle purple shade with a subtle silver undertone and a captivating iridescent sheen. This is elegantly contrasted by the deep purple “Amethyst” paint on the upper coachwork.
In sunlight, the motor car reveals a delicate touch of mauve on the inner rims of the 22-inch wheels, providing an understated yet sophisticated contrast to the mirror-polished aluminum surface, akin to the colorful lining of a bespoke jacket.
The carbon fiber used for the lower sections of the vehicle undergoes a complex treatment, where a chevron pattern is meticulously crafted along two axes. A fine layer of lacquer tinted with Amethyst pigment adds an extra dimension, subtly concealing this intricate detail until closely examined.
The Pantheon grille treatment exemplifies the client’s trust in Rolls-Royce artisans to execute intricate details. The grille surround and ‘kinked’ vane pieces are meticulously hand-brushed and hand-polished, with precise demarcation between the finishes. This unique surface treatment was inspired by the client’s son, an haute horlogerie collector, who drew inspiration from a historically significant timepiece.
Beneath this contemporary craftsmanship lies a meticulously detailed lower front air intake, digitally designed and ‘printed’ in lightweight composite material. It incorporates 202 hand-polished stainless-steel ingots, each painstakingly painted by hand in the Globe Amaranth hue.
The front end is adorned with a Spirit of Ecstasy figurine surrounded by amethyst cabochons, shaped and polished to exude a subtle elegance, reminiscent of the client’s early involvement in the gemstone business.
Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail celebrates the materials personally selected by the client and family. It all started with a sample of Calamander Light open-pore wood, which inspired the choice of the motor car’s leather treatment – a gentle contrasting leather in the “Sand Dunes” hue, designed to match the caramel strands of the wood. The primary leather color, “Amethyst,” complements the exterior and boasts a subtle pearlescent lacquer, akin to the gemstone’s brilliance.
The interior showcases the most extensive wooden surface area in Rolls-Royce history, extending from the fascia and doors to the shawl panel, center armrest, and aft deck. A unique veneering process was developed, with veneer sheets placed upside down to expose the raw wood texture. Interior wood parts underwent rigorous endurance testing to ensure they meet the same standards as exterior parts, making Amethyst Droptail suitable for various climates worldwide.
A Coachbuilt Rolls-Royce derives its identity and legend from the accomplishments, sensibilities and character of its owner. It is this human dimension, combined with highly progressive design, that makes it entirely unique and irreplaceable. This specificity gives every Coachbuild commission a sense of timelessness and artistic endurance. Within Rolls-Royce design, Amethyst Droptail will stand in our history as a representation of how accurate our creative response can be in projecting the soul of an individual commissioning client through both literal and highly conceptual expressions of personal luxury.
Anders Warming, Design Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The client requested rotary dials adorned with rare amethyst gems, shaped in a convex cabochon style for a subtle yet exquisite touch. Each gem underwent thorough scrutiny by experts and the client’s organization, ensuring they meet the highest standards.
A removable hard top provides the Amethyst Droptail with dual personalities – an open-top roadster without the roof, and a formidable coupé with it in place. The electrochromic glass in the roof instantly changes color and transparency. When deactivated, it mirrors the motor car’s Amethyst exterior finish with a subtle purple tint. Activated, it matches the “Sand Dunes” leather used in the interior.
The Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail’s fascia features a unique timepiece, the “Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon,” handmade by Vacheron Constantin. This intricate timepiece boasts a bi-retrograde display and a bi-axial tourbillon, harmonizing seamlessly with the motor car’s forms, materials, and colors.
In essence, the Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail is a testament to the client’s passion for meticulous details, gracefully interwoven into one of Rolls-Royce’s most historically significant creations. It showcases the marque’s ability to seamlessly blend heritage, modernity, and soul.
