Lace. Not leather, not carbon fibre, but lace. And not just any lace either.

This is the kind of fabric that graces the bodices of runway royalty and wedding gowns crafted in hushed ateliers in Paris. Now, it has found a new canvas, within the plush interior of the world’s most prestigious automobile.

A Father’s Day Gift Like No Other

Commissioned as a deeply personal gift from a Middle Eastern client to their father, Phantom Dentelle was orchestrated through the Private Office Dubai, Rolls-Royce’s ultra-exclusive design embassy for the elite. The starting point was a rare piece of handmade lace, crafted using a Leavers loom, a dying art form, much like the art of coachbuilding itself.

“This stunning Phantom Dentelle… is an homage to the exquisite handmade lace used in some of the world’s leading haute couture ateliers.”

Michelle Lusby, Designer

Where Thread Tells a Thousand Stories

Stretching across the dashboard is “The Gallery,” a full-width canvas unique to Phantom, here adorned with a custom-embroidered artwork that took over 160,000 stitches to complete.

Petals and fern motifs, shimmering in Rose Gold, Sunrise, and Oatmeal threads, were laid using eight different embroidery techniques, from triple-run stitches to create fine lace meshes, to satin stitching that offers a silk-like sheen. Each thread captures light like sequins on a red carpet gown, shifting with the movement of sun or spotlight.

Even the rear passengers aren’t left out. The Waterfall section between the rear seats carries a complementary embroidery pattern; 70,000 stitches of botanical elegance. Rose Gold speaker grilles provide just enough sparkle, without veering into ostentation.

“It brings a remarkable sense of movement and theatre to something entirely still.”

Brienny Dudley, Rolls-Royce Interior Trim Centre

A Stage for Subtle Splendour

While many bespoke Rolls-Royces opt for a bold visual presence, the Phantom Dentelle plays in the realm of restraint.

Draped in a two-tone livery, the lower body glows in Crystal over Arctic White, while the upper body showcases Crystal over a hue named Palais Nemasker Dawn, a colour reserved for the commissioning client’s exclusive use.

A double Sunrise coachline winds its way down the body, terminating in a hand-painted motif: a leafy branch with pearl ‘berries’, a callback to the lace inspiration within.

Crowning this visual symphony is a Rose Gold Spirit of Ecstasy. Regal, radiant, and resolutely rare.

The Private Office Experience

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Dentelle was born from whispered conversations in a Private Office, where the lines between designer and client blur into collaboration.

The Private Office in Dubai is one such portal to this dreamscape. Here, clients work directly with Bespoke designers and Client Experience Managers, dreaming up creations that speak more of identity than utility.

It’s like commissioning a Savile Row suit, only this one has a V12 under its bonnet and 22-inch polished disc wheels.

A Moving Masterpiece

Now, the only question that remains is, how do you top a gift like this? A galaxy-themed Wraith, perhaps? But that’s a tale for another day.

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Since 1925, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has ferried kings and queens, rock stars and revolutionaries, diplomats and dreamers. It has graced red carpets, wartime strategy rooms, royal wedding processions, and recording studios lit by incense and creative fire. And through it all, Phantom has often led the motorcade.

As Rolls-Royce celebrates a full century of Phantom, this moment is about recognising the weight a nameplate can carry, and the stories that only a car like this could collect along the way.

Few understand symbolism better than military generals. Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, famously austere, made one grand concession: a pair of Phantom IIIs. One for personal use, and another to drive Winston Churchill, Eisenhower, and even King George VI to high-stakes planning sessions in the lead-up to D-Day.

In 1948, just after marrying Princess Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh requested a Phantom for their joint use. Thus, Phantom IV chassis number one was born, later nicknamed the Maharajah of Nabha. Today, it still serves the Royal Household, an emblem of continuity in a rapidly changing world.

Phantoms have since been woven into the royal tapestry: from the Silver Jubilee Phantom VI, gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, to the Phantom that quietly glided the Duchess of Cambridge to Westminster Abbey in 2011.

Even beyond Britain, Phantom played a starring role. In 1966, a Phantom V carried Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the UAE, to his inauguration. A few years later, it delivered Britain’s ambassador to the signing ceremony that birthed the nation.

Of course, not every Phantom was destined for velvet ropes and palace gates. Some, like the one owned by John Lennon, became canvases for rebellion.

Initially all black, Lennon’s Phantom V was a nightclub on wheels, complete with blackout windows. But in 1967, it transformed into a psychedelic riot of yellows and florals, prompting one furious Englishwoman to whack it with her umbrella, shouting, “How dare you do that to a Rolls-Royce!” Lennon, naturally, was amused.

Phantom’s allure didn’t stop at Buckingham Palace. Fred Astaire, Greta Garbo, Jack Warner, and even James Bond’s villains have all had their moment behind (or inside) the wheel.

In 1964’s Goldfinger, gold was smuggled inside a Phantom III. Sixty years later, Rolls-Royce paid homage with a one-off Phantom Goldfinger, complete with bespoke coachwork and playful nods to the film. Art imitating art imitating espionage.

That same year, The Yellow Rolls-Royce premiered with a glittering cast and a 1931 Phantom II.

Elvis Presley, never one to do things by halves, bought a Phantom V in 1963. He customised it with a microphone, a writing kit, and had it resprayed after his mother’s chickens pecked the original finish. The car would later inspire Leonard Cohen’s offbeat ballad, Elvis’s Rolls-Royce.

Fast forward to the 2000s, and Phantom VII arrived just in time for the rise of self-made millionaires, social media moguls, and the cult of personality. No longer just a badge of lineage, Phantom became a canvas for individualism. Even Olympics appearances, as in London 2012, where Phantom Coupés stole the closing ceremony spotlight.

From the Spirit of Ecstasy to digital OLED light signatures, Phantom has evolved without ever chasing trends. Every generation has added something new to its mythos. Every owner has rewritten a chapter.

“Phantom is a cultural phenomenon, a canvas for personal expression, transformed through Bespoke craftsmanship into a moving work of art,” Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

At 100 years young, Phantom is not slowing down. It is, instead, reminding the world what greatness truly looks like.

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Commissioned by a client in Japan with deep, personal ties to the centuries-old tradition of Hanami, this bespoke Phantom Extended is a tribute not just to cherry blossoms, but to the very idea of life’s fleeting beauty.

250,000 Stitches. Six Months. One Masterpiece.

The embroidery alone (over a quarter of a million stitches) took six months to design and execute, with the Starlight Headliner taking up three weeks by itself. What ensued is a starry canopy of white-pink blooms that cascade delicately across the headliner, doors and the Privacy Suite partition, as if a cherry tree had shaken its branches in springtime bliss.

The detailing is astonishing. Ancient Japanese stitching techniques were revived and reinvented by Rolls-Royce artisans to give the blossoms depth and tactility. Using a technique known as offset tatami stitching, the threads mimic the texture of bark and blossom, intertwining branches that grow, curve, and stretch over the cabin like an organic mural.

In a marque that’s seen everything from constellations to constellations of diamonds embedded in its roof liners, one might think innovation has limits. Yet, the Phantom Cherry Blossom pushes new ground with three-dimensional, sculptural embroidery, the first in the brand’s history.

These cherry blossom petals rise. Thread is layered upon itself, petal by petal, before being shaped and sculpted by hand. Each is positioned individually to catch the light in just the right way, casting gentle shadows and evoking the sensation of blossoms fluttering gently to the ground.

Exterior Hints and Hidden Petals

Outside, the artistry continues in a more subtle form. The Phantom’s Crystal over Arctic White exterior is adorned with a hand-painted coachline that ends mid-door with a delicate cherry blossom motif.

Even the umbrellas concealed in the car’s doors bear the theme. Open one and you’ll find falling petals lining the inner fabric.

“This motor car represents a deeply personal memory for the client and demonstrates the power of Bespoke in uniting individual meaning, heritage craftsmanship and modern artistry”

Martina Starke, General Manager of Bespoke Design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Indeed, the Phantom Cherry Blossom is a legacy cast in leather and thread. A rolling keepsake meant to be passed down, its cherry blossoms eternally frozen mid-fall.

And in that, it captures the true essence of Hanami: to pause, reflect, and appreciate beauty while it lasts.

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As the Year of the Dragon draws to a close, Rolls-Royce has unveiled a one-off Phantom Dragon.  

This was commissioned by an esteemed Chinese patron. The Phantom Dragon is a moving tribute to centuries of Chinese heritage, a showcase of artistic craftsmanship, and a statement of personal philosophy.

The dragon, one of the most revered symbols in Chinese culture, has long been associated with power, wisdom, and prosperity. Here, it is reinterpreted through Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke craftsmanship, resulting in a creation that is as culturally significant as it is breathtakingly beautiful.  

At the heart of the Phantom Dragon’s design is an ancient legend that dates back more than 3,000 years. The story speaks of two celestial dragons, guardians of the human realm, who were gifted a divine pearl by the gods for their unwavering loyalty and selflessness. Instead of keeping the treasure for themselves, they deferred to one another, demonstrating kindness and generosity, virtues deeply valued in Chinese culture.  

The gods, moved by their noble act, gifted them a second pearl, which they absorbed before ascending to the heavens as deities. The interplay of the dragons and the pearl has since been a timeless symbol of balance, enlightenment, and harmony, a theme that now finds its way into the bespoke details of this Phantom.  

The centrepiece of the Phantom Dragon is its Bespoke Gallery, a feature that runs the width of the dashboard and serves as a blank canvas for artistic expression. Here, a stunning marquetry depiction of the two dragons and their treasured pearl unfolds, crafted from 297 individual wood veneer pieces sourced from four different species of wood.  

An artisan at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood spent over three months assembling this intricate masterpiece.

The base layer, crafted from Smoked Eucalyptus, is accentuated by Sycamore veneer outlines, each a mere 0.5mm wide, painstakingly filled with Ash burr, a material chosen specifically for its grain pattern that mimics swirling clouds. 

Above, the Bespoke Starlight Headliner takes this mythical vision into the heavens. Comprising 768 red and 576 white fibre-optic lights, this feature abstractly depicts the two dragons soaring through the night sky, illuminated by celestial bursts of light.

Each fibre-optic light has been individually hand-fitted, surrounded by 24 shooting stars.

The interior is finished in Ardent Red and Black leather, a striking combination that reflects both modern luxury and the traditional colours of Chinese imperial grandeur. The door panels, meticulously crafted from natural open-pore Smoked Eucalyptus, add a sense of warmth and authenticity, while the reclining Serenity seats exude an air of quiet sophistication.

As a finishing touch, the client’s family name is elegantly embroidered in ancient Chinese calligraphy onto the headrests.  

Contrasting the drama of its bespoke interior, the Phantom Dragon’s exterior is finished in Iced Diamond Black. The satin-like shimmer of the paint lends a subtle radiance, ensuring the vehicle remains a commanding presence on the road.

As one of the marque’s most significant regions, China has consistently been at the forefront of bespoke commissions, with clients seeking creations that blend cultural storytelling with modern craftsmanship.  

The involvement of Rolls-Royce’s Private Office Shanghai in curating this masterpiece further underscores this relationship.

Martina Starke, Head of Bespoke Design at Rolls-Royce, encapsulated this philosophy: “One of Rolls-Royce’s greatest strengths is creating products that sensitively and respectfully integrate cultural iconography, reinterpreted through our own design language. The Phantom Dragon is a perfect example of this; melding traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary craftsmanship to create something truly remarkable.”  

For Shuai Feng, Lead Bespoke Designer at Rolls-Royce’s Private Office Shanghai, the project was a labour of love: “Our goal was to express China’s most revered symbols in a way that was both impactful and respectful, while seamlessly incorporating Rolls-Royce’s design handwriting.”  

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For a hundred years, it has been the undisputed benchmark of automotive opulence, a rolling masterpiece that has ferried royalty, dignitaries, and visionaries through history.  

Since its debut in 1925, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has been a symbol of status, craftsmanship, and timeless innovation. As the marque commemorates a century of this legendary nameplate, it is worth reflecting on what makes the Phantom the pinnacle of automotive luxury.  

A Legacy Built On Perfection  

When Rolls-Royce introduced the first Phantom I in 1925, it was hailed as the “best car in the world”. The engineering was revolutionary, offering refinement, power, and craftsmanship in a way no other manufacturer could match.  

That reputation carried on through every generation. The Phantom II refined the formula, the Phantom III introduced a V12 engine, and the Phantom IV, reserved exclusively for heads of state, became the ultimate statement of prestige.  

By the time the Phantom VII arrived in 2003, Rolls-Royce had transformed into a brand that blended heritage with modernity, redefining what a luxury car could be in the 21st century.

And now, in its eighth generation, the Phantom remains the ultimate expression of craftsmanship, exclusivity, and innovation.  

Phantom VIII

Today’s Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII is the most technologically advanced, meticulously crafted, and effortlessly powerful version yet.

Beneath its stately exterior lies a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, delivering 563 bhp and a surge of torque so seamless it feels like gliding on air.  

Step inside, and you are immediately cocooned in a world of bespoke luxury. Every surface is hand-finished, every detail customisable. The Starlight Headliner, an enchanting constellation of fibre-optic lights, transforms the ceiling into a celestial masterpiece.

The Gallery, an uninterrupted piece of glass on the dashboard, allows owners to commission one-of-a-kind artworks, turning their Phantom into a mobile art gallery.  

Sound, or rather the absence of it, is another defining characteristic. With over 130 kg of soundproofing material, double-glazed windows, and foam-filled tyres, the Phantom is one of the quietest cars in existence.

Rolls-Royce engineers even had to reintroduce a subtle level of sound, as complete silence was deemed too disorienting for passengers.  

One hundred years on, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is a legacy and an enduring symbol of excellence.  

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This is a one-of-one marvel inspired by none other than Auric Goldfinger, the iconic villain from the James Bond franchise.

The Phantom Goldfinger takes its cues from the 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville, famously owned by the film’s namesake antagonist. It sports a bold yellow exterior but with all the grace and gravitas you’d expect from a Rolls-Royce.

The two-tone “long-side” design wraps around the car’s impressive coachwork like an unbroken ribbon of luxury. 21-inch wheels are finished in black, complete with silver “floating” hubcaps. A nod to the original 1937 model, these wheels bring a retro-modern charm that feels right at home.

If you thought the exterior was striking, the inside is something else. There’s a hidden vault in the centre console, home to an illuminated 18-carat gold bar shaped like a Phantom Speedform. A miniaturized, stylized version of the car itself.

It’s the kind of detail that makes you pause, if only to marvel at the sheer audacity of it.  

Gold accents abound, from the base of the front and rear centre consoles to the glovebox interior, which is debossed with Goldfinger’s unforgettable line: “This is gold, Mr. Bond. All my life, I have been in love with its colour, its brilliance, its divine heaviness.”  

Even the treadplates are designed to mimic gold bars, each featuring the Goldfinger moniker for that extra touch of theatricality.

The Starlight Headliner, a Rolls-Royce signature, has been meticulously designed to replicate the constellations as they appeared over Switzerland’s Furka Pass on July 11, 1964, the last day of filming one of the movie’s most memorable scenes.

At the centre of the dashboard sits bespoke artwork: a hand-drawn isoline map of the Furka Pass. It frames a unique clock inspired by the legendary gun barrel sequence, instantly recognizable to any Bond aficionado.  

Adding a final touch of cinematic nostalgia, the Phantom Goldfinger comes with the famed “AU 1” British number plate, originally seen on the Goldfinger Phantom III in the film. It’s already been delivered to a Rolls-Royce collector in England, undoubtedly becoming the crown jewel in their collection.

As Auric Goldfinger himself might say, “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times? That’s just Rolls-Royce being exceptional.”

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Today we delve into the world of bespoke luxury with the unveiling of Rolls-Royce’s latest masterpiece, the Phantom Inspired by Cinque Terre. This automotive jewel draws its inspiration from the breathtaking landscapes of the Italian Riviera and the age-old tradition of winemaking that graces its shores.

Cinque Terre, which translates to “five lands” in Italian, is an enchanting tapestry of fishing villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore – nestled along the Ligurian coast in northern Italy.

These villages are not just places; they are living postcards, each with its own unique character. What ties them together are the terraced vineyards that seem to defy gravity, embracing the Mediterranean in a breathtaking green embrace.

So, how does one capture the essence of this Italian Riviera paradise in a motorcar? Rolls-Royce has taken on this challenge with unparalleled finesse.

Let’s talk about that paint. They’ve chosen a hue that speaks volumes: Ligurian blue. It’s not just a colour; it’s a tribute to the Mediterranean waters that gently caress the Cinque Terre. But they didn’t stop there. This masterpiece features hand-painted double pin striping in Navy Blue and Jasmine, a nod to the vineyards and the grapes that dot the landscape.

Step inside, and you’re greeted by an interior that’s nothing short of a work of art. Grace White and Navy Blue leather, adorned with delicate Jasmine accents, create an ambience that whispers of elegance. But the true showstopper is the grape-branch design embroidered on the rear door panels.

Now, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill embroidery; it’s a masterpiece in itself, boasting a staggering 9,215 stitches, carefully executed with two distinct techniques. The grapes, shimmering like dew-kissed jewels, are brought to life with satin stitch, ensuring they catch the light just right. The grape leaves, on the other hand, are created using a tatami stitch, giving them a uniquely textured finish.

And what’s an Italian-inspired masterpiece without a nod to the art of al fresco dining? Rolls-Royce has you covered with fold-out picnic tables, crafted from stainless steel and adorned with gold plating. These tables, adorned with the same grape design found in the exterior pin striping, are an invitation to savour the finer moments of life.

The Starlight Headliner, a hallmark of Rolls-Royce opulence, depicts a map of Italy with a constellation of 14,338 individual lights. Among them, five stars shine brightly, representing the five enchanting Cinque Terre villages.

But the real pièce de résistance awaits you on the dashboard. An exquisite gallery unfolds, showcasing an amalgamation of the Cinque Terre villages. This masterpiece, first brought to life through digital sketches, was meticulously airbrushed by hand with water-based acrylic paint, and then sealed with layers of clear lacquer. To add a touch of silver-screen elegance, the villages are also debossed in silver on the glovebox.

Now, you might wonder if the heart of this automotive marvel received any enhancements. Not a touch. The Phantom is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.8-litre V-12 engine, a juggernaut producing 563hp and an astounding 900 Nm of torque.

This power flows gracefully to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission, ensuring a ride that’s as smooth as a serenade.

Rolls-Royce claims that the Phantom Inspired by Cinque Terre is a one-off creation, a piece of rolling art that won’t be replicated. Yet, we know that the world of luxury is boundless and ever-evolving, and it won’t be long before we’re treated to yet another extravagant masterpiece from the artisans at Rolls-Royce.

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Rolls-Royce has recently unveiled its unique Bespoke Series Phantom, ‘The Six Elements’, at a private gala ceremony held in Dubai.

The unique project, initiated by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai in partnership with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Abu Dhabi, comprises six Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Series IIs.

The unique bit? Each Phantom is entirely individual, and features its own specially commissioned artwork on the inside, hand-painted by British Artist Sacha Jafri. These works of art are displayed in the Gallery, or for layman folk, the glass-enclosed space running the length of the Phantom’s dashboard.

Each piece of artwork is inspired by one of the five traditional elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Air. The sixth, Humanity, references Sacha Jafri’s best-known work, ‘The Journey of Humanity’, the world’s largest painting on canvas done over seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dubai.

Like all Phantom models, ‘The Six Elements’ was designed, developed and handcrafted by the Bespoke Collective at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood. This unique series was also done in collaboration with the resident Bespoke designer in the Rolls-Royce Private Office in Dubai. This project initially began in late 2020, and has taken two years to complete, with COVID-19 being a plausible reason for the hiatus.

Apart from the unique artwork, each car also features its own unique NFT and QR codes, which the owner can sell independently if they choose to do so. With every trade of these 6 NFTs, a royalty will be paid into a digital wallet, raising funds for future charitable donations.

To view each vehicle’s NFT, the owner of the Phantom can scan a bespoke Jafri Heart-motif QR code embedded within their car’s glove compartment.

Rolls-Royce has updated that the project, currently at stage one of its journey, has already exceeded its initial target funding of $1.3 million, with all six cars having been allocated to customers in Dubai and the wider Middle East region.

One can hope at least one of these 6 cars will be driven out from time to time.

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Make way, luxury executive saloons, for your king has returned. The Rolls-Royce Phantom has always set the bar for opulence, and nothing can compromise its grandeur as the gold standard of luxury. Now, Rolls-Royce has announced the arrival of the new Phantom Series II, which has recently landed in Singapore.

Our small little island is also the very first South East Asian country to receive the new model. Neat.

Of course, everyone knows a car like this doesn’t come cheap. Brace yourself, for the new Phantom Series II starts with an eyewatering price tag of S$2,098,888 without COE. And that only gets you the “standard” wheelbase variant. Want the Extended Long Wheelbase one? Prepare to drop a cool S$2,448,888 without COE.

This equates to roughly $1590 per extra millimetre of room you receive. Wow.

With such insane prices going for it, what exactly is new in this new iteration of luxury?

Not much has changed from the original Phantom, with the new Series II receiving fairly minor design updates. The biggest differences are the new polished horizontal chrome bar that runs above the new grille. These elements enable the signature Spirit of Ecstasy emblem to stand out more prominently.

For extra bling, the headlights also feature intricate laser-cut bezel starlights, a complement to the optional Starlight Headliner inside the cabin.

Notice the funky new wheel design? New rims will be offered with the Series II, and customers can also request for darkened trim pieces, much like the Rolls-Royce black badge editions. The areas that can be darkened include the chrome grille surround, black bonnet reins, windscreen surround and side frame finishers.

Inside, the steering wheel has been buffed up slightly, giving it just a tad more thickness. With the incorporation of Rolls-Royce Connected, the Phantom Series II is now much more technologically sophisticated. The infotainment system syncs up the car with Rolls-Royce’s Whispers app, enabling owners to send information like navigation GPS or location information via their smartphones.

Rolls-Royce Connected also actively displays the car’s location, security status and current ‘health’ condition on the Whispers app. Helpful menus allow owners to contact any preferred dealership for any servicing requirements or assistance with the car, with just a touch of a button.

Would you sink that much money into a car like this?

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