The contemporary movie version of Iron Man presents us with an intriguing question: what sort of watch does a man who can make – using medieval tools – miniature reactors with palladium wear?

The recent blockbuster tells us that it’s a Diagono Phases De Lune in red gold, although the Diagono Aria with GMT in yellow gold also appears.

It helps, of course, that Robert Downey Jr. is himself a famous friend of Bulgari and his input on matters of style (concerning the Stark character) was integrated into the film. For the Diagono collection, there is hardly a better way to celebrate its 20th anniversary than on the wrist of the Ironman.

Bulgari’s Diagono collection has been on the frontlines of horological style since 1988. To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Bulgari has brought out a sumptuous range of offerings that redefine the essential characteristics of the collection while remaining resolutely in the Diagono mould.

It continues to be inspired by the theatre of ancient Greece but now comes with new mechanical movements, including column-wheel-vertical-clutch chronograph, and proprietary lug designs. Nevertheless, the trademark Bulgari-Bulgari on the bezel remains intact, as can be clearly seen in the film.

What can’t be seen are the 10,000 hours of development work that went into creating caliber BVL 347, the heart of Tony Stark’s Phases de Lune. The originality of the moon phase display speaks volumes for the sophistication of this model. More information about this collection will follow.