A Voyage of Opulence: Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Fabergé Unite in Extravagance

The illustrious legacy of Fabergé, a name synonymous with the finest jewelry, dates back to the era when Peter Carl Fabergé crafted 50 ingenious Imperial Easter Eggs for the Romanov family from 1885 to 1916.

Rebirthed in grandeur on September 9, 2009, Fabergé is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gemfields Ltd, a global leader in responsibly sourced colored gemstones. Today, Fabergé commemorates ‘A Life in Colour,’ drawing inspiration from its rich history to create original masterpieces that embody the Maison’s heritage, present, and future.

In an unprecedented partnership, Fabergé and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have set sail on their remarkable Fabergé Spotlight Voyages, marking the first instance in history where a cruise line has joined hands with the renowned jeweler-to-royalty, famed for its exquisite, egg-shaped marvels that can outshine even the most luxurious cars. As an intriguing testament to their exclusivity, the anonymous owner of the $2.2 million Game of Thrones dragon egg embarked on the maiden Fabergé Spotlight Voyage in June.

The inaugural 10-night journey encompassed visits to captivating destinations like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallinn, and

London. Passengers were treated to a private tour of Westminster Abbey, guided by Lady Penny Mountbatten, and had the privilege of mingling with Ralph Heimans, the celebrated royal portrait artist renowned for his iconic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee. These extraordinary experiences were made possible through Fabergé’s close ties with the British royal family.

Andrea DeMarco, the President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, remains discreet about the forthcoming perks awaiting passengers on the next Fabergé Spotlight Voyage, but one can rest assured that they will be nothing short of extraordinary.

Scheduled for July 1, 2024, the next Fabergé Spotlight Voyage will set sail from Rome aboard the Seven Seas Grandeur, the newest all-suite, all-balcony ship in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet. This 10-night Mediterranean odyssey promises visits to enchanting locales such as Salerno, Malta, Palma de Mallorca, and Provence, culminating in the opulent playground of Monte Carlo.

The guest of honor on the inaugural Fabergé Spotlight Voyage was none other than Dr. Géza von Habsburg, Fabergé’s curatorial director. On sea days, he engaged passengers with complimentary Q&A sessions and shared the captivating history of this fabled brand, which was founded in 1842 by a French refugee in Russia. The VIP for the 2024 voyage will be Sarah Fabergé, the ship’s godmother and the great-granddaughter of Fabergé founder Peter Carl Fabergé. Sarah will lead captivating masterclasses on the intricate art of crafting enamel jewelry, all within the confines of the ship’s exclusive pop-up Fabergé boutique, housing some of the most extravagant jewelry at sea.

Among the treasures showcased in this unique boutique, there is one piece that stands apart – “Journey in Jewels.” This bespoke objet d’art, commissioned by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, will be the first Fabergé egg to grace a permanent display on a cruise ship. Andrea DeMarco describes it as “standing at approximately 18 centimeters tall with a three-tiered base that ingeniously conceals the movement of the egg’s opening mechanism,” marking a groundbreaking innovation in Fabergé’s storied history.

The exact value of “Journey in Jewels” remains shrouded in secrecy, perhaps to deter the interest of modern-day pirates, but it will undoubtedly be a crown jewel in a multimillion-dollar collection aboard the ship. What makes Fabergé’s eggs so incredibly precious? For one, their exclusivity - only 4,000 pieces are crafted annually. Furthermore, each piece demands upwards of 120 hours of painstaking craftsmanship by skilled artisans. Before an artist or jewelry designer can create for the brand, they must undergo a rigorous 10 to 15 years of training, a testament to the unparalleled dedication and expertise that goes into the creation of every Fabergé masterpiece.

Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is inspired by the allure of the Black Baccara rose, an intense, velvet-like flower that originates in France and is beloved by the mother of the commissioning family. The dark pomegranate color of its petals appears almost black in shade, but in direct light, a red, pearlescent shimmer is revealed on the dark surface. These two colors form the primary palette of La Rose Noire Droptail. The first red shade is named ‘True Love’ in recognition of the romance the client wished to capture in this commission. The darker tone is named ‘Mystery,’ inspired by the mysterious nature of the rose, which appears to change color when viewed from different angles. Indeed, it was the essence of true love and the mystery of exploration and travel that captivated the clients throughout the commissioning process.

The exterior coachwork is finished in the lustrous and complex True Love red. As the Black Baccara rose, the motor car also appears to change color depending on the point it is examined from. To achieve this rich variation, surface finish specialists developed a completely new paint process, which was perfected over 150 careful iterations. A base coat, the color of which is a closely guarded secret, was followed by five layers of clear lacquer, each blended with a slightly different tone of red.

The duotone theme extends into La Rose Noire Droptail’s brightwork. The dark finish, named Hydroshade due to its liquid quality, was developed specifically for this project. These pieces are not painted; rather, a specific chrome electrolyte is introduced in the chrome plating process and co-deposited on each stainless-steel substrate in a layer just one micron thick – roughly the same width as a strand of spider-web silk. This dark but reflective finish is continued on select metal details throughout the interior, each of which have been precision-polished by hand to achieve a high-gloss finish.

A removable hard top has been designed to give Droptail two distinct characters: without its roof, Droptail is a lithe, open-top roadster; with the roof installed, it becomes a formidable and dramatic coupé. Exclusively for La Rose Noire, the roof is uniquely low-slung, which is further exaggerated with a faster and longer rake to underpin its assertive, glamourous character. Behind it, an ingot with the motor car’s name is included – a first for Rolls-Royce. The completely bespoke roof also features an electrochromic glass section, which instantly transitions to a near-translucent shade at the touch of a button, inviting patrons to explore the world above.