“The Middle East region has long been the source of many of the most technically complex, creatively ambitious Bespoke commissions ever undertaken by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ stands at the very summit of those achievements and is a supreme example of the marque’s creativity and craftsmanship. It is also the very first client Bespoke project to be commissioned through our Private Office Dubai. This is an extension of the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and gives clients direct access to our talented Bespoke designers, together with the full support of their local dealer partner. As the motor car is a birthday gift to the father of a longstanding patron, it adds a very special dimension to the project. It has been a privilege to create such a magnificent motor car to mark this auspicious occasion. ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ not only has a deep personal meaning to both father and son, it also commemorates the great heritage story of the family. At Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, highly Bespoke commissions have always been crafted with deep emotional connections in mind and each motor car has its own tale.”

César Habib, Regional Director Middle East & Africa, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The owner’s family commissioned a magnificent, one-of-one Bespoke motor car named ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ to mark a significant birthday. Local Dealer Partners in the Middle East and Africa region have revealed Private Office Dubai’s first Bespoke project, offering clients an authentic Goodwood experience.

A longstanding Rolls-Royce client commissioned ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ in early 2022 to mark his father’s 90th birthday. Regional Director César Habib and Bespoke Lead Designer Michelle Lusby were originally introduced to the father with the purpose of understanding his passions and life story; these meetings provided valuable insights to inform the design direction for the commission.

Bespoke Pearl Rose Exterior Finish

The Bespoke Pearl Rose finish, inspired by the colour of the owner’s most prized pearl in his extensive, world-class collection and exclusively reserved for this motor car, will not be available to any other client in future. Paint specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood carefully selected unique pigments to replicate a delicate hint of pink rarely found in natural pearls. Unusually, the paint combines both metallic and pearlescent effects to give exceptional depth and lustre.

Perfecting the finish required around 30 different iterations, each applied to a full-sized body panel. The Atelier at Goodwood pre-checked these under daylight simulation lamps and sent them to the client to ensure that the colour was correct when viewed under the Middle Eastern sun. The paint also underwent extensive technical testing to ensure it will remain unaltered by heat or UV light over its lifetime.

A skilled craftsman applies a single coach line by hand in Rose Gold paint, complementing the Pearl Rose finish. The rose gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy mascot matches the coach line and adds to the overall aesthetic appeal. Additionally, the theme of rose gold extends to the Bespoke treadplates, which are visible on each of the four door sills when opened.

Interior: The art of presentation

The interior of the Rolls-Royce ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ features two different leather colours.

As the father prefers to travel as a passenger, the front seats, finished in his favourite Cashmere Grey, provide him with the utmost comfort. The car’s rear seats pay homage to the family’s heritage by featuring a trim in Ardent Red, inspired by the colours of the material used to present pearls and their natural variations. In addition, the burr walnut veneer in the car’s interior echoes the wooden presentation boxes traditionally used to hand over pearls to customers upon purchase. These design elements create a cohesive and elegant look, tying together the car’s interior with the family’s legacy.

Bespoke embroidery detailing includes ‘RR’ monograms in Rose Gold thread on the headrests and rear seat inserts in Grace White, inspired by the symmetrical growth patterns of an oyster shell and angled at the same precise 55 degrees as the veneer.

A celebration of mother-of-pearl

‘The Pearl Cullinan’ features one of the most extensive uses of mother-of-pearl ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car. The natural variations of this beautiful material created opportunities and challenges in equal measure for the marque’s designers and craftspeople.

This is particularly apparent with the detailed design of the Picnic Tables fitted to the rear of the front passenger seats. The upper surface features an intricate, circular pattern inspired by traditional Arabic design that draws the eye inward to a central point. Each tabletop is exquisitely inlaid with 1 351 individually selected pieces of mother-of-pearl, placed by hand in the surrounding burr walnut marquetry and then sealed with clear lacquer. The natural shade and colour differences in both the mother-of-pearl and the wood mean each tabletop is a unique work of art.

The burr walnut fascia incorporates an exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay inspired by traditional Middle Eastern art. At its centre is the Arabic word for ‘father’, inlaid in stainless steel. Rolls-Royce presents another Rolls-Royce first, with the dashboard clock, which boasts a mother-of-pearl surround, while the dial and hands are in rose gold, giving it a tactile, jewel-like quality. The centre rotary dial also boasts a mother-of-pearl finish.

Above the occupants, the Bespoke Starlight Headliner shows the sky as it appeared on the night and at the very place where the commissioning client’s father was born.

“For me, there was a huge emotional connection with this Bespoke project. I had the privilege of spending time with the commissioning family, which allowed me to discuss details of the design directly with them, and really understand their true significance. Their unique use of mother-of-pearl was a great creative and technical challenge for us: to see the Picnic Tables go from my original digital designs to those beautiful, highly detailed finished works of art was fantastic. This is a truly special commission in so many ways, and a project we aspire to have as Rolls-Royce designers. Emotions inspire our imaginations.”

Michelle Lusby, Bespoke Lead Designer at the Private Office Dubai

Interested parties can book an appointment at the Private Office Dubai through one of the Dubai dealerships.