Bulgari Aluminium Frecce Tricolori Watch

A watch with a charitable motive.

BY DHANANJAY PATHAK

Bvlgari released a slew of new aluminum watches during the Geneva Watch Days 2020 event showcasing the rebirth of the famous 1998 Bulgari Aluminum watch. Now the brand has expanded the Aluminum collection with a new variation of the cream dialed version, the Bvlgari Aluminum Tricolore. This watch has been introduced with the noble intent of supporting three Italian hospitals, in turn paying a tribute to the brand’s Italian roots.


Like the other members of the family, the Bvlgari Aluminum Freece Tricolori features aluminum and rubber-based construction. Measuring a modest 40mm in diameter, the case has been crafted from lightweight aluminum and looks distinctive courtesy of the integrated lug design. The top of the case is adorned by a dark-blue bezel that is made of rubber and is engraved with bold Bvlgari branding. At the 3 o’clock position is a well-sized threaded crown to ensure 100 meters of water-resistance. Also, the crown, along with the case back is made of titanium.


The dial, like the case, also looks quite familiar with a few subtle additions. The base dial has been presented in a mellow cream tone that provides the perfect backdrop for the black elements. The hour index comprises a mix of thickly printed batons and numerals at 6 and 12 and is accompanied by a finely printed minute track. There is a date window at 3 with the date wheel nicely matched to the color of the dial. The hour and minute hands are of baton style and have been coated with luminous paint to aid low light legibility. The stick style second’s hand has a syringe tip and a circular counterbalance, both of which have been painted in red. Adding uniqueness and an extra dash of color to the dial is the “TRICOLORE” text above 6, which has been rendered in green, white, and red, the colors of the Italian national flag.


The power train behind this watch is the calibre B77. An automatic movement, the B77 is based on the trustworthy ETA 2892-2. The movement operates at 4 Hz and offers an autonomy of around 42 hours.

The Bvlgari Aluminum Tricolore comes attached to an integrated dark blue rubber bracelet with aluminum links and buckle. The watch would retail for EUR3,050. The proceeds from the sale of the first 50 pieces of this special edition watch would be numbered and would be donated to “Un Dono dal Cielo”, a fundraising project started by the Aeronautica Militare to aid three Italian children’s hospitals in Rome, Genoa, and Naples. The second lot of 1000 pieces would be un-numbered and will be available to purchase starting December 2020.

Visit Bvlgari here.