Rolls-Royce unveils bespoke Phantom Hummingbird with abalone shell marquetry

Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Phantom Hummingbird, a unique ‘Private Commission’ vehicle designed as a tribute to a client’s wife. Developed through the Private Office Dubai, the long-wheelbase Phantom Extended uses the hummingbird as a central theme to represent joy and resilience.

The vehicle marks a historic first for the manufacturer with the extensive use of abalone shell marquetry. To replicate the iridescent plumage of a hummingbird, artisans combined the blue-green nacre of abalone shells with mother-of-pearl. This intricate process required nine months of development and six prototypes to master the fragile material.

Key interior details include picnic tables featuring flying hummingbirds composed of 53 individual pieces of shell, and a ‘Rear Waterfall’ panel containing 84 botanical elements. The craftsmanship involved laser-cutting pieces to within 0.06mm of their final size before being finished by hand to ensure a seamless fit.