
Bowers & Wilkins Releases $170k Pearlescent Nautilus Speaker
The heritage British speaker manufacturer marks thirty years of the seminal model by coating its striking form in a shimmery pearlescent finish.
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A celebration of heritage and craftsmanship, the Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus Speaker in Abalone Pearl turns auditory excellence into a work of art. Founded by John Bowers in 1966, British speaker manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins has long been at the forefront of auditory innovation and design. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the seminal Nautilus loudspeaker, Bowers & Wilkins has coated the distinctive form in a shimmering Abalone Pearl exterior; deriving inspiration from the marine creature from which the loudspeaker takes its name.
Known for its sculptural design—which helped earn it the Queen’s Award for Innovation—the Nautilus speaker was created in 1993 by Laurence Dickie, who was tasked to ‘create a speaker that doesn’t sound like a speaker’. Unconstrained by the limitations of conventional projects, Dickie conceived the signature tapering tube and spiral design that are now recognised by audiophiles around the world.
Prioritising function and form in equal measure, the unique shape of the tapered tubes on the Nautilus allow the drive units to work optimally by absorbing unwanted sonic contributions, while its striking minimalist front enhances dispersion. The key technologies developed by Dickie during the creation of the Nautilus are utilised across the Bowers & Wilkins line to this day.
The Abalone Pearl finish befits the auditorily and aesthetically striking speaker, with the 30th Anniversary Edition adhering to the same hand-crafted ethos Bowers & Wilkins has employed for all Nautilus loudspeakers over the past three decades. Crafted in the Bowers & Wilkins factory in Worthing, UK, the Nautilus loudspeaker is cased and shaped by hand, before being sprayed and polished.
While the Abalone Pearl exterior is a one-off finish, Bowers & Wilkins offers a custom service that colour-matches any desired shade in addition to the standard hues of Silver, Black, and Midnight Blue. The Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus loudspeakers come as a pair and are priced at approx. $168,500 (£90,000).
$168,500; bowerswilkins.com
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