For a long time Bvlgari has been carrying with it the mantle of being a women’s watchmaker. The elegance in its designs and the seamlessness of its vision simply made Bvlgari the go-to luxury brand when it came down to top-shelf women’s timepieces. But times have changed and so has Bvlgari. Over the last two decades or so, the Italian luxury powerhouse has become a hotspot in the realm of mechanical high horology.
A Record Breaking Series – Bvlgari Octo Finissimo
The collection that instantaneously comes to mind is the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo. From the brand’s perspective, the idea was to make something that had all the necessary features that a watch user might require. Well, Bvlgari went over and above and created something that would redefine the surreal art of Haute Horlogerie once and for all.
In the last seven years, Bvlgari has released not four, not five, not six, but seven timepieces that have broken world records. These ultra-thin timepieces have changed the perception of luxury watchmaking as a whole and have contributed in ways that are unfathomable.
Bvlgari’s success did not happen overnight. Besides than being exceptional in jewelry making, Bvlgari also has a long running tradition in high-end watchmaking. Bvlgari absorbed the Gerald Genta and Daniel Roth brands and with them, their technical as well as artistic pedigree.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon
The real renaissance era for Bvlgari, however, started in the year 2014. That year, the watchmaker introduced the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon for the very first time. At that time, this was the thinnest tourbillon watch ever created in the history of the watchmaking industry.
The platinum case of the watch was an astonishing 5 mm thick. The movement of the timepiece miraculously fit a tourbillon carriage in a space that was no deeper than 1.95 mm. Now, this was something that is usually expected from a prestigious Swiss watch brand. But the milestone arrived from Rome instead.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater
In 2016, Bvlgari went on and released the groundbreaking Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater, the world’s slimmest minute repeater. As a matter of fact, there are only a handful of minute repeaters in the whole world that are in the sub-8 mm range.
The Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater is merely 6.85 mm thick. That is, as far as ultra-thin wristwatches go, a mean feat to accomplish. The movement used in the watch, the caliber BVL 362 in the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater is just 3.12 mm thick.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Automatic
In the year 2017, Bvlgari made it pretty clear that it had no intension of backing off. That year, the brand released the Octo Finissimo Automatic which became the thinnest self-winding watch in the world. Measuring at a mind-boggling thickness of just 5.15 mm, the watch made a name for itself instantly.
The timepiece also won the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve prize in the Men’s Watch category. That very year, the skeletonised version of the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon picked up the Tourbillon and Escapement Watch prize as well.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic
In 2018, Bulgari released its most ambitious project. The brand launched the ambitious Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic. The timepiece broke three records all at once.
The records were as follows, (i) the thinnest automatic watch, (ii) the thinnest tourbillon watch, and (iii) the thinnest automatic tourbillon watch. The first two records were held by past Octo Finissimo models only.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic
By now, Bulgari’s reputation in the industry was iron-clad. It made a name for itself in the horological community by creating exceptional ultra-thin timepieces. Buyers began to wait patiently for the next ultra-thin world record breaking watch.
Before anyone knew, it was the turn for the world’s thinnest chronograph. In 2019, the Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Automatic made its first appearance. Needless to say, It bagged yet another Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve prize.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic
As many would know, 2020 was a year of turmoil and uncertainty. The coronavirus pandemic ravaged industries including luxury watchmaking. Bvlgari, however, did not let go and used the inaugural Geneva Watch Days exhibition to launch the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Skeleton Automatic.
To everyone’s surprise, this watch claimed another world record for the slimmest chronograph tourbillon ever created. Brava Bvlgari!
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar
This year, Bvlgari set its eyes on the thinnest perpetual calendar made yet. The watchmaking Maison accomplished this with the all-new Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar. The timepiece debuted at the digital Watches & Wonders event which was held in April. It might be hard to believe but the watch’s 40 mm case is merely 5.80 mm in thickness. If this isn’t impressive enough, then the 2.75 mm thick calibre definitely will be.
The timepiece’s titanium sandblasted case contains an astonishing 408 components. Inside the 40 mm wide case, there lie miniature moving parts that fuel up the hours and minutes hands and of course, the perpetual calendar feature.
Other functionalities include the retrograde date display, day, month, and last but not least, retrograde leap years display. These functions are adjustable via three correctors, (i) One for the date at 2pm, (ii) another for the month at 4pm, and (iii) a third for the day situated between 8 o’clock and 9 o’clock.
All that being said, it is truly a monumental achievement for Bvlgari as well as the Haute Horlogerie community to be able to create such a masterpiece.
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