Value of a gem that is rarely negotiated. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires are valued based on cut, clarity, color and carat weight. But this Triumph, dubbed the ‘Emerald’, is something else entirely, with its value waiting to be determined at the Bonhams auction house in Paris.
tamarit motorcycle is a custom bike manufacturing powerhouse in Alacante, Spain, focusing entirely on Triumph’s air- and oil-cooled engines Bonneville communication. Emerald is the 129th build to hit the store since it was founded in 2019, and the 13th to appear on Bike EXIF pages.
Many of Tamarit’s builds are accessible bikes—relatively affordable machines with elegant and practical mods. Many parts used on them are available to customers and general shapes can be achieved. However, Emerald joins previous Tamarit builds’Jade‘ and ‘circle‘ in an elite group, known as the ‘Gem Collection’.
These motorcycles are built to the highest standards. They are rolling sculptures and work with more creativity, talent and time invested than any spec sheet or quick brief could include.
Starting with a Triumph Bonneville sponsor using a carburetor, Tamarit sketched out a design, then created a digital rendering to guide the project. While Jade, the first jewel of the Jewel Collection, is an upright jewel cafe racerEmerald gets many design cues from Circe—a stripped-down version motorcyclists with a floating solo seat.
Emeralds immediately stand out. All metal surfaces are shiny in gold, brass or chrome; Large speed holes adorn the swingarm, skid plate, fender mount and saddle rack. The foot controller is mounted high up and towards the back of the bike, with the low handlebars giving it an aggressive look.
But with over 650 collective hours of construction, by eleven craftsmen, the real devil is in the details. Take a closer look at the steering wheel. They’re welded directly to the top clamp, but expanded to now also act as a headlight cage, with vertical slats covering the lens and connecting to a rod below the lamp.
The Motogadget tachometer is integrated into the top clamp, keeping the rider’s line of sight clear and clear, while still allowing for a wide variety of instrumentation. Like most Tamarit builds, this bike also features the Motogadget mo.unit which is the ‘brain’ of the machine’s new electronics, greatly simplifying the wiring. Switches, end-of-bar and mirrors [not pictured] also from the German brand, while the class controller is a part of KustomTech.
As we’ve seen on the Circe, a new oil-cooling system replaces the downpipes at the front of the bike’s frame, allowing it to run cooler overall. The battery is now located behind the motor towards the end of the bike, out of sight. Keihin FCR39 dual carburetors are fitted, with long velocity compartments extending towards the gold springs on the new Hagon shock absorbers.
Two large-format chrome-plated steel pieces serve as mounting points for both the Emerald’s custom monoshock setup and its suede-covered single saddle (the same suede is incorporated into the fuel tank knee pads) . The extension swing arm is a custom part.
Peeking behind the chrome saddle, you’ll see the bike’s unique integrated taillights, turn signals and nameplates. A custom fender hugs the rear wheel.
With so many modifications made to Bonnie’s frame, Tamarit wanted to make sure that the frame remained sturdy enough to withstand impact. So they reinforced it in places, then sent the bike into the lab for stress testing.
The Bonneville engine has also been completely rebuilt to ensure performance and reliability. The oversized pistons are housed in redesigned cylinders, with flat cylinder heads and new valve seals.
The one-off exhaust system is handcrafted, short and large with a slight stream of steam towards the end of the pipe. The thermal anodization on the exhaust pipes perfectly matches the chrome and brass finishes, while a shimmering blue paint coat covers the fuel tank and fenders.
How to price a machine with 650 hours of labor and lots of creative ideas implemented? Yes, you don’t.
Tamarit decided to let people determine the value through the famous British auction house Bonham’s, in Paris, in less than a month. Circe and Emerald will both appear on the auction block, for the highest bidder.
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