Following in the footsteps of the Tourbillon and the Minute Repeater, this new model from Bulgari was in the spotlight at Baselworld earlier this year. The Octo Finissimo Automatic is a slim ultra-thin self-winding watch. The Maison unveiled its new creation featuring a total thickness of just 5.15mm, while its self-winding movement is just 2.23mm thick for a 40mm diameter. The iconic Octo is once again pushing the boundaries of watchmaking feasibility.
Finissimo – the very name is a promise and a dream. Extreme thinness is a horological complication in its own right. Merely slimming down or miniaturizing existing elements would be far too simple. On the contrary, each element – even the tiniest of them – must be conceived and designed right from the outset so as to contribute to the extreme overall slenderness of this exceptional timepiece. This implies not only the parts of the mechanical self-winding movement, but also the entire set of elements composing the case and dial. So as to guarantee the legibility and the highly contemporary contrast effect, the hands and hour-markers are coated with a black PVD treatment.
Manufacture Bulgari has developed a new in-house movement to drive the Octo Finissimo Automatic: Caliber BVL 138. At just 2.23mm thick, it earns the much-coveted title of the slimmest self-winding movement currently on the market. An offset small seconds hand adds an additional to refinement. To ensure smooth energy regulation, it beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and has a 60-hour power reserve.
Automatic winding is accomplished via the platinum micro-rotor, a guarantee of efficiency. The watch is water-resistant to 30 meters. Despite the constraints involved in developing an ultra-thin watch caliber, the movement is hand-decorated with Cotes de Geneve and circular-grained finishing, resulting in a watch that is extremely impressive in watchmaking terms, while maintaining a chic and simple outward appearance.
The elegance of extreme thinness relies on mastery of volumes and shapes, and also stems from the subtle approach required in dealing with this field. Such extreme thinness is a bold move conveying a philosophy, a highly complex means of paring down to essentials, with a powerful design that vividly enhances this demonstration of minimalism.
After gold and steel, the case and dial are now attired in titanium, featuring a sandblasted surface that lends a highly contemporary note to this watch. Prolonging the sensual pleasure procured by the light feel of titanium, the watch comes in a version equipped with an alligator leather strap – in this instance with a matching titanium pin buckle, as well as an extremely beautiful titanium bracelet composed of supple and perfectly articulated links.
