Rolls-Royce Phantom Hummingbird debuts abalone shell marquetry

Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Phantom Hummingbird, a one-off Phantom Extended commissioned as a tribute to its owner’s wife. It is the first Rolls-Royce to use abalone shell marquetry, chosen for its blue-green iridescence. Each hummingbird motif comprises 53 pieces of mother-of-pearl and abalone, while an 84-piece botanical design sits between the rear seats. The technique took nine months and six iterations to perfect, with the three finished panels requiring 45 hours of work. Don’t even ask how much all this cost. You can’t put a price on love after all...