Bulgari Octo

The Bvlgari Octo collection is defined by its octagonal cases, harmonious designs, and extremely flat calibers. Bvlgari looked to the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in the Roman Forum when designing this timepiece. The result is a true celebration of Italian style. There are also elements from the sketchpad of renowned watch designer Gérald Genta, whose company Bvlgari acquired in 2000. Genta is perhaps most famous for designing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus.

World-class in-house calibers tick away inside the watches of the Octo collection. Some of these movements are even record holders. For example, at only 1.95 mm thick, the caliber BVL 268 is the flattest tourbillon movement of all time. You'll find this caliber inside the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon. The automatic tourbillon caliber BVL 288 is just as thin. As a result, the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic is the world's flattest automatic watch with a tourbillon. The final timepiece measures only 3.95 mm in height.

While the Octo Grande Sonnerie Perpetual Calendar is far from Bvlgari's thinnest timepiece, it is the brand's most complicated wristwatch to date. Its 44-mm case is made of 18-karat rose gold and houses a wealth of functions. This masterpiece features a tourbillon, minute repeater, grande and petite sonnerie, and a perpetual calendar. The automatic in-house caliber BVL 5307 also provides this timepiece with a moon phase display and two power reserve indicators – one for the movement and one for the chiming mechanism. Bvlgari presented this one-off creation in mid-2018 and quickly sold it to a watch collector in Asia for over 700,000 USD.

The Italian word finissimo translates to "superfine" or, in this instance, "very flat." The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo series more than lives up to its name. It contains automatic and tourbillon watches that have broken several world records for being the flattest of their kind. The automatic edition with the in-house caliber BVL 138 measures 40 mm in diameter and 5.15 mm in height. The movement itself is only 2.23 mm thick thanks to its platinum micro-rotor. Refined finishes complete this watch and make it truly finissimo.

The case is available in stainless steel, gold, titanium, or ceramic and boasts a total of 110 facets. One of the stainless steel editions, the ref. 103035, has a silver-colored stainless steel dial and a black alligator leather strap. Roman numerals at 6 and 12 o'clock team up with line indices and skeletonized hour and minute hands to tell the time. There's also a small seconds with fine line indices between 6 and 9 o'clock. The time is set via the stainless steel crown. You can view the in-house movement at work through the display case back. The Octo Finissimo Automatic is water-resistant to 30 m (3 bar, 98 ft). A never-worn ref. 103035 costs around 10,500 USD. Pre-owned watches cost a few hundred dollars less.

If you'd prefer a flat gold watch, you should take a closer look at the ref. 102912 . This Octo Finissimo Automatic is made of 18-karat rose gold, including its dial and crown. What's more, Bvlgari mounts this timepiece on a rose gold link bracelet. That amount of gold comes with a much higher price tag. This watch requires an investment of some 33,500 USD new. As always, you can save some money by going for a pre-owned piece.

Fans of skeleton watches are sure to love the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton. This ultra-flat luxury watch features an open base plate and beveled bridges with a circular brushed finish. The manual in-house caliber BVL 128SK is only 2.35 mm thick and provides this timepiece with its impressive 65-hour power reserve. There's also a small seconds at 7:30 and a power reserve indicator at 9 o'clock.

The titanium case of the ref. 102714 is 5.37 mm thick and 40 mm in diameter. Sapphire crystal protects the watch from both the front and back, allowing you to see straight through the timepiece. A black alligator leather strap holds this model securely on the wrist. You can call this edition your own for roughly 17,500 USD new. Pre-owned pieces demand a few hundred dollars less.

If you're on the market for a gold skeleton watch, look no further than the Octo Finissimo ref. 102946 in 18-karat rose gold . Unlike most gold watches from other manufacturers, Bvlgari has opted for a sand-blasted finish instead of a polished shine. This lends the watch a futuristic matte look. From a technological perspective, this luxury watch is identical to its titanium sister model. The ref. 102946 sells for almost 22,000 USD in mint condition.

The Octo Finissimo Skeleton ref. 103126 is a great choice for fans of black watches. Both its case and bracelet are made of black ceramic. This high-tech material is much lighter and more scratch-resistant than stainless steel. A never-worn black Finissimo Skeleton costs around 20,000 USD.

The Bvlgari Octo collection's top models feature intricate complications like a tourbillon or minute repeater. The latter relays the time acoustically and is one of the most elaborate complications in all of watchmaking. At 6.85 mm thick, the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater is the world's flattest wristwatch with a minute repeater. This is in large part thanks to its in-house caliber, the BVL 362, which is also a record holder. It's only 3.12 mm in height, making it the flattest movement of its kind. The 40-mm case is available in titanium or carbon. Instead of traditional indices or numerals, the hour markers are punched out of the dial, offering a glimpse of the movement below. By flipping the watch over, you get a fuller view of the caliber through the sapphire crystal case back. The titanium edition has a list price of 155,000 USD. In 2018, Bvlgari introduced a carbon model. Only 50 copies exist of this timepiece, which has a retail price of 160,000 USD.

The Octo collection is home to many tourbillon watches. These timepieces come in your choice of platinum, black-coated titanium, or rose gold. There are also skeleton watches, as well as diamond-studded models. The ref. 102401 is made of platinum and features 60 baguette-cut diamonds on its bezel. This 40-mm watch is a great choice for men and women alike. The Octo Finissimo Tourbillon measures only 5 mm in height, making it the world's flattest automatic tourbillon watch. The in-house caliber is itself a record-breaking 1.95 mm thick. If you'd like to call this platinum watch your own, be sure to have at least 177,000 USD on hand. However, with a limited run of only 25 pieces, this timepiece rarely pops up for sale.

Its skeletonized sister model, the ref. 102719, also comes in platinum. This watch is much more common and, therefore, significantly less expensive. Prices for a mint-condition timepiece begin around 102,000 USD.

The Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT is one of the collection's sportiest models. What's more, it's also the world's flattest wristwatch with both stopwatch and GMT functions. The latter enables the watch to display two time zones simultaneously and is particularly practical for frequent travelers. The titanium case's sand-blasted finish underscores this timepiece's sporty feel. Combined with a titanium dial, this model is especially light and robust. Its 42-mm case is only 6.9 mm thick and water-resistant to 30 m (3 bar, 98 ft).

The in-house caliber BVL 318 is an astonishing 3.3 mm thick. Its platinum micro-rotor provides the movement with more energy every time the wearer moves. Fully wound, this watch can run for 55 hours uninterrupted. A sapphire crystal case back offers an unobstructed view of the hand-finished movement at work.

The Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT has a tricompax dial layout with a 24-hour display for the GMT function at 3, a 30-minute counter at 6, and a small seconds at 9 o'clock. Plan to spend around 14,000 USD on this titanium chronograph.

Octo chronographs without a GMT function are somewhat more affordable. One example is the Octo Maserati Chronograph. As its name suggests, this special edition timepiece is the result of a collaboration between Bvlgari and Italian luxury car manufacturer Maserati. Thanks to its bezel with a tachymeter scale, blue lacquer dial, and white subdials, this chronograph has an even sportier feel than the Octo Finissimo Chrono GMT.

Based on the Zenith El Primero, the high-frequency caliber BVL 328 is further evidence of the Maserati Chronograph's sporty nature. Its balance ticks at 36,000 alternations per hour (A/h), which is equal to 5 Hz. This means it can accurately measure periods of time to within one-tenth of a second. Furthermore, this movement has a 50-hour power reserve and a date display at 4:30.

Maserati's logo, a trident, serves as the counterweight on the chronograph second hand and is yet another unique feature of this limited edition. Bvlgari only ever produced 1,914 copies of this timepiece – a reference to the year Maserati was founded. This impressive watch sells for roughly 9,000 USD in mint condition.

If you like the look of the chronograph but can do without the Maserati branding, you will enjoy the Octo Velocissimo chronograph. Bvlgari also outfits this model with the caliber BVL 328. One particularly striking example is made of stainless steel with a black DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. This protective layer makes the case more scratch-resistant. The rose gold bezel, crown, hands, and indices contrast beautifully against the dark background. A black rubber strap enhances this timepiece's modern look. With 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft) of water resistance, this watch can even go for a dip in the pool. Prices for a new ref. 103075 come in at around 8,900 USD.

The Bvlgari Octo Roma is the most affordable Octo model. You can recognize these watches by their less angular case design, which has only 58 facets instead of 110. That being said, the characteristic octagon is still an essential component, as is the wide, satin-brushed bezel. Other features of the Roma include a date display at 3 o'clock and central hands for the hours, minutes, and seconds. The 41-mm case is available in stainless steel, rose gold, or as a two-tone combination of both materials. At 9.58 mm thick, this watch isn't setting any records; however, it's still extremely comfortable on the wrist. The sapphire crystal case back is screwed down into the case, and the final watch has a depth rating of 50 m (5 bar, 164 ft).

The in-house caliber BVL 191 ticks away inside the Bvlgari Octo Roma. It comes with a 42-hour power reserve and has a balance frequency of 28,800 A/h. The BVL 191 is a no-frills movement and has minimal decoration, an appropriate choice for the Octo's entry-level model. The stainless steel version on an alligator leather strap costs about 5,000 USD. For a few hundred dollars more, you can get the same watch on a stainless steel bracelet. The two-tone model bears the reference number 102854 and demands roughly 11,000 USD. You can purchase the rose gold edition on a brown alligator leather strap for around 14,000 USD new. Pre-owned pieces typically cost a bit less.