BUCHERER BLUE EDITION – HARLEY DAVIDSON
The Harley Davidson BLUE EDITION
is a handmade motorbike par excellence,
which took over 2,500 hours
of work to produce and cost over 1.8 million
Nothing else embodies the feeling of freedom quite as sensually and powerfully as a Harley-Davidson or… some would say in our days, an Indian! But there is something about Harley and the nostalgia that comes with it. Inspired by the idea of measuring not only time, but also space, with style – and attitude – Bucherer, together with Bündnerbike, the Swiss custom Harley-Davidson workshop, has developed a new member of the Bucherer BLUE EDITIONS family: the Harley Davidson BLUE EDITION. This motorcycle, which is customized by hand in Maienfeld, is the ultimate in self-expression. But it is not only the 360 diamonds, gold-plated screws, two safes that are integrated into the tank and contain a one-of-a-kind watch from Carl F. Bucherer as well as rings from Bucherer Fine Jewelry, or the thrilling design of the engine that make this iridescent blue bike – the only one of its kind in the world – a true work of art. At CHF 1.888 million, it is also the most expensive motorcycle in the world.
Cool style – customized
The Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is based on a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S. However, there is not a great deal left that is reminiscent of the initial model with its cool vintage style. Every metal element found on this one-of-a-kind motorcycle has been produced, welded, beaten, grounded and polished by hand. The complete frame of the motorcycle is welded seamlessly, and even the rims, of course are custom-made. The rotating camshaft is visible through a window in the camshaft housing, as are the valve control and the gold-plated throttle valves. Heat-resistant LED lights illuminate the scene. The Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is thus the world’s first motorcycle to have a motor that is lit up from the inside. Various parts of the motorcycle are also gold-plated. The cowhide saddle has been sewn by hand in Switzerland.
A special detail: the iridescent color. A specific technique had to be employed to illuminate the Harley-Davidson in this intense blue. In a first step, the entire motorcycle was silver-plated, before six color coatings were then applied using a secret coating method.
The combination of custom motorcycle design and the art of jewelry making.
This unique piece is perfected by the incorporation of the arts of watchmaking and jewelry making. This is also a world first: never before has a watch manufacturer and jewels been integrated in a motorcycle. The Dizzler rotating ring from the Bucherer Fine Jewelry collection was adapted for the Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION to allow it to be mounted on the handgrips. “That was a technical challenge,” says Jürg Ludwig Jr. Managing Director of Bündnerbike. “To ensure that the rings really stay in place, a special method was applied that guarantees a very strong hold. How this works remains a secret of the Bündnerbike blacksmith,” explains Ludwig. A further pair of Dizzler diamond rings can be found on the forks, while a large version of the Dizzler ring is located in the left half of the tank.
Underneath a glass dome made from armored glass, another piece of jewelry of special value can be found in a retractable safe: a six-prong Heaven solitaire ring with a 5.40-carat diamond. This is also a unique feature, as is the watch from Carl F. Bucherer at its side. This special custom-made watch, which is based on the Patravi TravelTec II model, is located in a second safe in the right half of the tank. The dial of this unique piece is adorned by elements of a motorcycle engine. To ensure that the vibrations of the engine does not damage the mechanical movement, the watch is housed in a cage with an elaborate holder made from silicon rings. “It was a long road,” says Samir Merdanovic, Head of Manufacture Movements at Carl F. Bucherer, about the development process, which demanded a great deal of thinking. “The holder, for example, also serves as a watch winder. The watch is therefore wound regularly and continues to run, even if the motorcycle is not ridden for an extended period,” explains Merdanovic. The owner can also look forward to wearing a further unique Carl F. Bucherer watch on their wrist. This has been created by the manufacturer exclusively for the buyer and also incorporates design elements of the motorcycle and its engine on the dial. Even when not riding the motorcycle, the buyer will therefore always have a piece of the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking at his or her side.
A testimony to passion
With all of these elements, the Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION is testimony to the passionate spirit, the comprehensive design understanding and the openness to new ideas of the Lucerne-based family company. It is the perfect addition to the Bucherer BLUE EDITIONS watch collection, created in cooperation between Bucherer and the most renowned brands in the watchmaking industry. Inspired by the color blue, the corporate color of the Lucerne-based jewelers, outstanding timepieces from the best manufacturers are created for the collection. “We are pleased to be able to contribute our long-standing experience and close relationship with our partners in order to create exclusive and unique watches and products as part of the Bucherer BLUE EDITIONS, which are exclusively available at Bucherer. This allows us to appeal to customers around the world who want to stand out from the crowd and live the BLUE EDITIONS lifestyle,” says Patrick Graf, Chief Commercial Officer at Bucherer. There is no doubt about it: the world can look forward to further surprising, first-class innovations and luxury products from Bucherer.
It took the watchmakers of Carl F. Bucherer, the jewelers of Bucherer Fine Jewelry and the specialists of Bündnerbike a year to design and produce the Harley-Davidson BLUE EDITION. A team of eight employees from both companies contributed all of their expertise.
Editor’s Note: What’s next? A $2,000,000, Indian motorcycle? “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7
