Bulgari - Octo Finissimo Ultra

2 0 Monday 21 March 2022 Edit this post

After seven consecutive world records and more than 60 international awards, Bulgari pushes the limits once again establishing a spectacular eighth world record with the Octo Finissimo Ultra, the world's thinnest mechanical watch.

The entire watch is just 1.80 mm thick. From the caseback to the top of the sapphire crystal, it is just as thin as a 20 euro cent coin!

Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bulgari’s Product Creation Executive Director, explains: "The challenge of this eighth record was the most difficult to overcome, since we had to break the rules not only in terms of movement design, but also of the case, the caseback, the bracelet and the folding clasp. To achieve this degree of thinness, you not only have to review your way of thinking, but you must also draw upon a wide range of skills, play with multiple materials and adapt to a multitude of new constraints".

Indeed, a total of eight patent applications have been filed for this model. They relate to the watch glass assembly, barrel structure, oscillator module, differential display, modular structure, bracelet, bimetal case middle-mainplate/caseback, as well as the Bvlgari Singvlarity technology that we will describe later.

The result of three years of research and development, the Octo Finissimo Ultra retains all the codes of the collection including a 40 mm octagonal case – although a larger size would have simplified matters – and an integrated bracelet as thin as the watch.

While from the front one might think of a flat structure, the Octo Finissimo Ultra reveals a three-dimensional architecture with its components coming to life on various levels.

This model uses the caseback as a mainplate on which the 170 components of the 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) BVL Calibre 180 are integrated. In a similar way, in addition to displaying time indications, the dial also serves to hold other components in place.

The required overall rigidity was achieved by developing the case middle, bezel and titanium lugs as well as the caseback/mainplate element in tungsten carbide, a particularly dense, hard and ultra-resistant combination of carbon and tungsten.

Moreover, in order to take advantage of the entire surface of the watch, the hours and minutes regulator-type dials, as well as the large barrel which stores 50 hours of power reserve, exceed the internal profile of the bezel. The small seconds display directly on the fourth wheel at 6 o'clock.

As it is easy to imagine, a classic vertical crown would be much too small and hard to handle properly. The solution adopted was to use two horizontally placed knobs – one for winding and the other for setting – which enable easy handling when the watch is on the wrist.

The volume of the bracelet links also had to be totally rethought since, at 1.80 mm thick, they fit perfectly into the continuity of the thinness of the case, yet are twice as thin as an ordinary Octo Finissimo bracelet. In addition, the folding clasp had to be designed according to new parameters.

The Octo Finissimo Ultra also features a QR code engraved on the barrel’s ratchet wheel. Once scanned, this individual key gives exclusive access to unique contents dedicated to the owner of the watch featuring interviews, making-of segments, a virtual 3D tour of the movement, and an exploration of the visible/invisible concept linked to the watch. Each of the ten first Octo Finissimo Ultra timepieces will be delivered with an exclusive NFT artwork which, thanks to blockchain technology, guarantees the authenticity and uniqueness of the watch.

The world's thinnest watch thus becomes the vault of its unique work of art, an everlasting bond guaranteed by the Bvlgari Singvlarity tech, the eighth patent of this creation. So as to maintain the surprise effect that is often part of the world of NFTs, this entire digital ecosystem will be unveiled when the first Octo Finissimo Ultra hits the market in a few months’ time.

Water resistant to 1 ATM (10 metres / 33 feet), the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra ref. 103611 is a limited edition of 10 pieces with a price of Euro 440,000.

An exceptional watch like this could not come with an ordinary presentation box. The owner can place the watch in the box next to a digital screen on which he can programme the desired time. As soon as the precious box is closed, the magic happens. Upon opening it some 20 seconds later, the owner will find the watch perfectly set to the desired time and fully wound. Check the video below to see how this happens. bulgari.com