Great-watchmaking finds its truest manifestations in the work of horologists who outdo themselves, adding radical new design elements, introducing new complications, and going to such extremes that redefine the regular. Bulgari has constantly studded its line of timepieces with watches that have boldly tread the edges of extremity and oftentimes come out on top. With the release of their seventh record-shattering wonder, the Octo Finissimo Perpetual Calendar, we see a new world record-holder.
With a case measuring just 5.8mm in thinness, Bulgari has managed to create quite a phenomenon. This feat is considered to be a complication in itself, with 408 individual components accommodated in a movement that is just 2.75mm thick. The 40mm sandblasted titanium case may have shed its thickness but doesn’t discount any style. It also comes in a satin-brushed platinum variant. It sports the retrograde-display date, the day and month, and a retrograde display with the leap years. Three correctors help adjust the precise date with accuracy – the days of the week are at 8 o’clock, the month is at 4 o’clock, and the calendar date runs across 9 o’clock through 3 o’clock. It’s magnificent, how much has been achieved within the tight confines of this slim beauty.
The Octo Finissimo range has consistently surprised those who love to expand the very boundaries of watchmaking. Throwback to the 2017 Octo Finissimo Automatic, which became the slimmest ultra-thin self-winding watch in the world, or the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Manual that came before it, which was the thinnest hand-wound flying tourbillon movement in the world. The watch offers water-resistance of up to 30 meters and a 60-hour power reserve. It is available with a titanium bracelet for the titanium variant or a blue alligator strap with a matching platinum pin buckle for the platinum one.
