In a time when the traditional tenets of luxury are waning, it’s reassuring to see that true craftsmanship still exists.
None more so than at the marque whose name is the benchmark for luxury, Rolls-Royce. That continue to push the boundaries of what it means to be a prestige automotive brand – in fact what it means to be a prestige brand full-stop.
I’ve watched keenly over the past few years as the feature-rich vehicles have landed en masse from Asia, redefining how consumers view “luxurious” tech, forcing European marques to clarify their own value.
For Rolls-Royce however there have been no such issues — at least not from the outside looking in — as they step into their centenary celebrations. With that rich history of craftsmanship, the Rolls-Royce mindset has seen them transcend every new market trend, by focusing on doing what they do best: quality.
Even their technological innovations align with the skillset their artisans, pushing them deeper into their craft rather than moving away from it. The embroiderers have not been replaced by machinery, but rather are encouraged to learn new techniques, working with cutting edge materials in novel ways.
The ultimate expression of Rolls-Royce has always been the Phantom, and this centenary year they have chosen this model — the most grandiose and astute proponent of the famed magic carpet ride — to be the centrepiece of their celebrations.
“The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection is our tribute to 100 years of the world’s most revered luxury item. This uncompromising work of art uses the meticulously engineered Phantom VIII as the canvas to tell the story of Phantom’s remarkable life and the people who shaped it – from the visionaries within Rolls-Royce to the owners who helped create its legend.”
Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
With only 25 motor cars to be made, the Phantom Centenary Private Collection is an ode to 100 years of the Phantom as the world’s most revered luxury symbol: a love letter to their past and a nod to their future.
Reassuringly, the underlying space frame architecture of Phantom VIII stays the same, as does the 6.75-litre V12 engine, albeit adorned with a special cover finished in Arctic White, and detailed with 24-carat gold; a welcome surprise for anyone privileged enough to open the expansive bonnet. Reworked in her original 1925 form but created with modern proportions, a solid-gold Spirit of Ecstasy, crowns each car, hallmarked and enamelled, to complete the validation.
The level of complexity needed create Phantom Centenary is unlike that ever used in a Rolls-Royce Private Collection vehicle before, making these 25 cars the most technologically intricate made by the marque to date. It will come as no surprise to learn that it took no less than three years of development and over 40,000 hours of work to create. So as far as time is concerned, it’s reassuringly expensive.
While the details on the exterior are restrained and subtle, the interior is where the storytelling truly comes to life using 77 bespoke motifs to recount their legacy, honour key people, past models, and landmark milestones. Inspired by the famed 1926 ‘Phantom of Love’ commission featuring handwoven Aubusson tapestries, the rear seats in Phantom Centenary feature high-resolution printed and embroidered fabrics, incorporating 160,000 stitches over forty-five precisely fitted panels. The front seats tell a different story, with laser-etched leather featuring sketches referencing Phantom’s historic prototypes; codenames such as “Roger Rabbit” and “Seagull.”
“Phantom Centenary is the most intricate and technologically ambitious Private Collection ever undertaken by the designers, engineers, production specialists and craftspeople of our Bespoke Collective. The surfaces read like a book revealing 100 years of Phantom’s history, rich with symbolic references for clients to admire and decipher over many years to come.”
Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
The most intricate woodwork in Rolls-Royce history, the designs portray topographical artistry of meaningful places to the brand and its founders. On the rear doors are depicted the coastline of Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, a place Sir Henry Royce used to enjoy during winter, due to its warmer clime. The woodwork elegantly combines 3D marquetry, ink layering, and 24-carat gold leaf to add depth to Phantom’s most iconic journeys.
Ever the showpiece of the interior, the gallery takes on a new form: a sculptural aluminium installation of fifty “book-like” fins engraved with century-old press quotes, and illuminated for dramatic effect.
In the vast canopy ceiling of Phantom Centenary, 440,000 stitches frame the iconic starlights, giving the impression of gazing through a canopy of leaves into the night sky; an ode to the famed square-crowned trees in the courtyard of Rolls-Royce’s modern home in Goodwood.
The overarching message is one of history and status, uniting craftsmanship, innovation, and artistry in a crown jewel — Phantom Centenary. The tenets of luxury may well be changing, but after 100 years Rolls-Royce once again prove that their ambition is timeless, and they remain the brand to match in excellence.
