ROLLS-ROYCE has unveiled the Amethyst Droptail, a captivating coachbuilt masterpiece that pays homage to its commissioning client’s cultural heritage, family legacy, and personal passions.
As one of four distinct interpretations of the Rolls-Royce Droptail, the Amethyst Droptail stands as an elevated embodiment of applied art. It was commissioned by a patron whose family business has transcended from a gemstone boutique to a multinational corporation with diversified interests. This well-traveled and globally inspired client, known for patronizing the arts, has amassed a collection of precious jewels, significant automobiles, and contemporary artworks, all housed within a specially commissioned private museum.
The design inspiration for the Droptail’s exterior was drawn from the Globe Amaranth wildflower. PHOTOS FROM ROLLS-ROYCE
The patron’s directive to Coachbuild designers was to create an elegant expression of the Droptail, drawing inspiration from the amethyst gem — a stone that symbolizes purity, clarity and resilience, qualities explored meticulously throughout the motor car. The Amethyst Droptail embodies the patron’s affinity for subtle artistry and refined embellishments, resulting in a true connoisseur’s vision that captivates those who appreciate intricate details.
The Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail was unveiled in Gstaad, Switzerland. The patron, also a co-creator of the vehicle, expressed a profound desire to celebrate their home region’s cultural heritage. The design inspiration for the Droptail’s exterior treatment was drawn from the Globe Amaranth wildflower, which thrives in the desert near one of the client’s residences.
The instrument dials combine amethyst-colored inserts with a partially brushed and polished finish.
The duotone exterior paint finish elegantly captures the various stages of the flower’s bloom. The primary body color, named Globe Amaranth after the flower, is a soft purple hue with a delicate silver undertone. It features fine flecks of powdered aluminum that catch and reflect light, creating a mesmerizing iridescent effect. An Amethyst contrast paint, a deep purple shade, adorns the motor car’s upper coachwork. It’s infused with a blend of red, blue, and violet mica flakes, resulting in a distinctive mauve color with a subtle metallic sheen.
In the sunlight, the motor car subtly reveals a hint of mauve paint on the inside of its 22-inch wheels, providing an understated yet elegant contrast to the mirror-polished aluminum surface. This detail, likened by the client to the colorful lining of a favorite bespoke jacket, adds a unique touch.
The exterior also boasts an intricate treatment applied to the carbon fiber used in constructing the motor car’s lower sections. Developed over two years, this treatment involves a chevron pattern book-matched along two axes, enhancing the technical exterior surfaces of the Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail. The carbon fiber is coated with a fine layer of lacquer tinted with Amethyst pigment, which, in most lighting conditions, harmoniously blends with the body color. This detail, although intricate and technically demanding, remains concealed until the vehicle is closely inspected, a nod to the client’s affinity for subtlety.
The Pantheon grille treatment serves as a testament to the client’s trust in Rolls-Royce’s artisans to execute challenging flourishes. The grille surround and “kinked” vane pieces are a masterful blend of partial hand-brushing and hand-polishing, each finish precisely separated by a distinct line. This intricate surface treatment, suggested by the client’s son — a collector of haute horlogerie — draws inspiration from the brushed hands of a historically significant timepiece. Achieving uniformity in finishes and contrast sharpness required over 50 hours of collective effort.
Beneath the surface, the motor car boasts an intricate lower front air intake. This meticulously detailed piece, digitally designed and “printed” in a lightweight composite, incorporates 202 hand-polished stainless-steel ingots. Each ingot is painstakingly painted by hand in the Globe Amaranth hue, showcasing the dedication to detail.
The front end is elegantly finished with a Spirit of Ecstasy figurine adorned with amethyst cabochons. These gems, shaped and polished into rounded forms rather than faceted, are a subtle reminder of the client’s early enterprise in the gemstone business, offering a nuanced and refined detail.
Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail pays homage to the materials and craftsmanship curated by the client and their family. The material selection began with a sample of wood provided by the client — the stunning Calamander Light open-pore wood. This wood features intricate texture and long bands of color, which served as the inspiration for the motor car’s leather treatment.
The primary leather hue, named Amethyst, complements the exterior surface and features a subtle pearlescent lacquer, reminiscent of the gemstone after which the motor car is named. Rolls-Royce has pushed the boundaries by extending wooden surfaces from the fascia and doors to the shawl panel, cantilevered center armrest, and aft deck, creating an unprecedented display of craftsmanship.
The motor car’s removable hard top imbues the Rolls-Royce Droptail with dual identities. Without its roof, the Droptail transforms into a lithe, open-top roadster; with the roof installed, it takes on the persona of a commanding and dramatic coupé. The roof incorporates electrochromic glass that instantly changes color and transparency, a result of the client’s challenge to create glass that harmonizes with the Amethyst Droptail’s colorway.
Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective accomplished this feat through a unique chameleon effect for the electrochromic glass. When inactive, the glass is completely opaque with a subtle purple tint, echoing the motor car’s Amethyst exterior finish. Upon activation, the glass becomes translucent, matching the Sand Dunes leather color used in the interior suite. Achieving this remarkable flourish involved experimenting with 60 iterations of glass coloring to achieve a perfect match.
The Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail’s fascia is adorned with a bespoke timepiece commissioned by the client from the renowned Swiss haute horlogerie maison, Vacheron Constantin. Handmade in Geneva, the timepiece, named “Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon,” features an intricate hand-wound movement. It is securely housed in a specially designed holder that allows for easy removal and separate storage, reflecting the client’s desire for elegance and versatility.
Vacheron Constantin and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars collaborated closely to ensure the timepiece’s forms, materials, and colors harmonize perfectly within the motor car. The instrument dials combine amethyst-colored inserts with a partially brushed and polished finish, elegantly echoing the timepiece’s hands. The timepiece is mounted on a white-gold baseplate adorned with a hand-crafted sunburst pattern.
The Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail represents more than just a vehicle; it embodies the commissioning client’s devotion to intricate detail and playful incorporation, all elegantly blended into one of the most historically significant Rolls-Royces ever built. This masterpiece reflects the marque’s prowess in not only realizing a clear vision but also harmonizing heritage, modernity, and soul.
