BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Although Bulgari has only been a watchmaking brand for a decade, they have had a considerable impact on the watch industry. Their most renowned line of watches, the Octo Finissimo, is unquestionably a modern horological icon. The Octo Finissimo broke numerous records, including the record for the thinnest watch, although Richard Mille has recently topped it as the thinnest watch ever made. However, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the modern Octo Finissimo line, and to celebrate this milestone, Bulgari has introduced a slew of models, among them is the brand-new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days.
Modern Bulgari watches, particularly the Octo Finissimo watches, include exquisite in-house movements and the familiar Genta Octagonal design with its peculiar case form. The case of this novelty is entirely satin-polished and fashioned with 18k pink gold, measuring 40mm in diameter and merely 5.95mm in thickness. Sapphire crystals protect the dial on both sides, the case is water resistant to 30 meters. A black ceramic insert completes the pink gold watch crown located at 3 o’clock position, which is used for winding and setting the timepiece. The Octo Finissimo’s backside, which likewise has a glass crystal engraved with all the specifics of the watch, has eight discrete screws that hold the bezel in place.
A highly skeletonized structure serves as the dial of this skeletonized Octo. The dial’s components consist of a chapter ring with a printed minute scale in gold that has 11 hour markings in thin pink gold batons and a Arabic “12” at noon. The running seconds indicator is found at 7:30. A spoked wheel underneath the small seconds hand is the power indicator and as the watch is wound, an extended bar comes into view to indicate the power reserve. The hour and minute hands are skeletonized in matching pink gold and positioned centrally. The “Bvlgari Eight Days” signature is located at the third hour.
Bulgari’s newest in-house Caliber BVL 199 SK ultra-thin movement powers the watch. It is a manually wound movement that beats at 21,600vph and has an exceptional 8-day power reserve (192 hours). Both the back and front of the watch have sand-blasted and dark anthracite PVD-finished anthracite bridges. The ultra-thin dimensions are made possible in large part by the movement’s 36.6mm x 2.5mm profile.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days comes on a dark-brown alligator leather strap with 18k rose gold pin buckle. It has an MSRP of $37,300 USD.
