Bulgari launches slimmest self-winding watch on the market, the Octo Finissimo Automatic
Maison, which already holds two successive world records for the slimmest timepieces, has taken thinness to a new extreme with its latest horological creation
Extreme thinness in horology is a complication in itself and Bulgari has pushed the boundaries of its watchmaking skills to meet this challenge. The maison has already scored two successive world records for creating the slimmest timepieces – for the Tourbillon in 2014, and the Minute Repeater in 2016.
This year, the watchmaker unveils the Octo Finissimo Automatic, the slimmest ultra-thin self-winding watch on the market to date, measuring just 5.15mm in total thickness, while its self-winding movement is only 2.23mm thick.
Brand ambassador Kris Wu was on site at Baselworld for the launch
Each element of this 40mm watch was conceived and designed at the outset to ensure its extreme overall slenderness. Merely slimming down or miniaturising existing elements would be far too simple – and certainly not Bulgari’s way of doing things.
As such, Bulgari has developed a new in-house movement to drive the Octo Finissimo Automatic: the calibre BVL 138. At just 2.23mm thick, it has earned its place as the slimmest self-winding movement currently on the market. An offset small seconds hand is an additional refinement. To ensure it runs smoothly, it beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (vph) and has a 60-hour power reserve. Automatic winding is accomplished via the platinum microrotor. The watch is water resistant to 30 metres. The movement is hand-decorated with Côtes de Genève and circular-grained finishing.
Choosing to work with certain materials is another attribute of the Bulgari brand and, after gold and steel, the case and dial of the Octo Finissimo Automatic are now attired in titanium, featuring a sandblasted surface that gives this watch a contemporary yet elegant look.
To reveal its latest world record, Bulgari is also introducing a skeleton-worked new interpretation of its Octo Finissimo Tourbillon, the world’s slimmest tourbillon.
The Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Skeleton is driven by an ultra-thin, entirely openworked tourbillon comprising 253 parts, featuring 13 jewels and eight ball bearings.