A $170,000 Handbag Arrives at Miami Art Week: Engineering Meets Luxury Craft

Abel Richard's Chrono handbag. Courtesy of Abel Richard

Unveiled during Miami Art Week, the Chrono handbag introduces a technical approach rarely seen in luxury accessories. Designed by Abel Richard, the new brand positions engineering precision at the centre of its identity.

Abel Richard, a newly launched Italian-made handbag company founded by entrepreneur Abel Richard Bullock, makes its debut with the Chrono — a sculptural silhouette starting at $170,000. The price is directly connected to its construction. Each piece requires months of production and integrates aerospace-grade carbon fiber, proprietary titanium alloys, ceramics and kiln-fired enamel, all hand-finished by artisans in Bassano del Grappa.

Bullock, an American biotech founder who began his career developing enamel writing instruments, says the aim is durability on an entirely different scale. “The idea is to develop something that will last 1,000 years, that will still be beautiful 1,000 years from now,” he explains. His companies, Vetek Labs and Surgenex, are headquartered in Arizona, where he continues to oversee parallel innovation in biotechnology and product engineering.

Chrono is one of several sculptural handbag forms and is offered in three variations. Additional designs — featuring components such as rubies or substantial titanium structures — reach $300,000 and beyond. “Some of our bags have over 400 components,” Bullock notes. Many are engineered to microscopic precision measured in microns, a standard more often associated with medical devices and high-end watchmaking.

The transition from writing instruments to handbags, Bullock says, was driven by materials. Advances in yachting, Formula 1 and aerospace engineering introduced new lightweight composites that could be applied to luxury design. Yet the resulting handbags still have notable weight, requiring extensive optimization to balance technical performance with wearability.

Bullock is also majority owner of Montegrappa, the historic Italian writing instrument manufacturer founded in 1912. This connection shapes Abel Richard’s retail strategy, with both brands sharing space in new boutiques. In Beverly Hills, the first store opened discreetly in October on Via Rodeo Drive, presenting bags and writing instruments in a gallery-style layout of marble, sculptural lighting and museum-grade finishes.

During Miami Art Week, the brand expands into the Miami Design District with a 3,777-square-foot boutique. Montegrappa CEO Giuseppe Aquila describes this shared retail model as an opportunity for evolution. Beyond writing instruments, the company will introduce luggage, trolleys, duffel bags, weekenders, backpacks, footwear and cashmere goods — all crafted in Italy.

The retail plan is ambitious. Stand-alone boutiques are scheduled for New York, Scottsdale, London and Dubai in early 2026. All stores are being designed by Italian studio 2A Architetti. “We’re going to get 50 locations in five years around the world in the top of the top places,” Bullock says. The New York flagship will open next at 7 West 57th Street — “in Billionaires’ Row across from the Aman hotel and two doors down from Bergdorf Goodman,” he adds.