Serenity is a new, one-off creation based on the Phantom Series II from Rolls Royce’s Bespoke Design department. The British marque claims that it “introduces a completely new level of individualized luxury applied to a Rolls-Royce Phantom“.
The concept draws inspiration from oriental themes as well as from “opulent” Rolls Royce models from the early 20th century.
While exterior changes are limited to the paintwork, Rolls Royce says that the ‘Bespoke Mother of Pearl’ color is the most expensive one-off paint ever developed in the history of the brand, with the polishing alone taking 12 hours by hand.
There’s also a two-color coachline with three-color blossom motif that echoes the interior, which is where Rolls Royce’s Bespoke Design division really outdid itself.
The Goodwood-based firm used unspun silk thread from Suzhou, China, which is famous for its creation of imperial embroidery, and had it hand-dyed by the Chinese craftspeople, before it was shipped to the UK where it was applied to the Serenity’s interior. Rolls Royce then had its people hand-paint crimson blossoms directly onto the silk. According to the British brand, “the resulting panels and swatches that have formed the centrepiece of Serenity would take up to 600 hours of work per panel”.
“The rear compartment of a Phantom is the most tranquil, beautiful place to be, a place where time and the outside world simply slip past,” says Cherica Haye from Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke Design department. “This tranquillity made us think of the Oriental tradition where Emperors would take to their private gardens to reflect in solitude under the blossom trees. The blossom motif is one that is cherished in Far Eastern culture and has been beautifully applied to Royal robe design over the centuries. We felt it was the perfect representation of tranquillity and serenity for a beautiful modern interior from Rolls-Royce.”
