New And Old Techniques Combine
Rolls-Royce is known for exquisite craftsmanship, but the luxury brand wanted to do something extra special for the centenary of its flagship Phantom. So it developed the most elaborate woodwork in company history. Given the intricate designs that have emerged from Rolls’ personalization department in recent years, that’s saying something.
Due to appear in a one-off Phantom build, the woodwork incorporates three techniques never seen before in a Rolls: 3D marquetry, 3D ink layering, and gold leaf. These were incorporated into the design as part of a one-year development process that also involved special training for the craftspeople executing the work.
Golf Leaf Detailing
Rolls-Royce
Spread out across the doors, wood panels feature images referencing the Phantom’s history. Covering such a large space required breaking the design down into smaller sections that were then assembled in a mosaic-like fashion, with veneer sheets chosen for specific spots based on their grain, and speaker grilles milled directly into the wood. Rolls opted for Blackwood because of its unique grain pattern.
Everything from maps and landscapes to individual flowers and trees was etched into that fibrous canvas with a laser at three different depths with the deeper etchings appearing darker to create shading. Other areas received the 3D ink treatment, in which layers of ink are added to “achieve an extraordinary level of precision and clarity,” according to Rolls. The automaker also put a 3D spin on marquetry, which normally involves creating patterns or images from two-dimensional pieces of wood veneer. Raised elements create that 3D effect, adding depth and texture to the designs.
As opulent as Rolls-Royce interiors get, there’s never been one with gold leaf from the factory. That’s in part because the centuries-old practice of adhering thin sheets of gold to surfaces had to be brought up to automotive standards of durability, and Rolls workers had to be trained in it. Squares of 24-carat gold leaf as thin as 100 nanometers are hand laid to depict roads flowing across the veneers.
Phantom Turns 100
Rolls-Royce
All of this work is a fitting tribute to one of the most venerable names in Rolls-Royce lore. The Phantom name was first on production cars in 1925. Those first-generation models were among the first foreign-brand cars assembled in the United States, as Rolls had a plant in Springfield, Massachusetts at the time. Five more generations followed through the end of the 20th century, including the Phantom III that served as James Bond nemesis Goldfinger’s ride.
After a 13-year hiatus, the Phantom returned in 2003 as the centerpiece of BMW’s relaunch of the Rolls-Royce brand. That seventh-generation sedan spawned coupe and convertible versions before being replaced by the current, eighth-generation Phantom in 2017. It remains the biggest, most opulent Rolls model, at a price point that ensures rarity even compared to the Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan, Cullinan SUV, and Spectre coupe.
