Category Archives: Bulgari

BVLGARI Serpenti Watches: Full Review of Bulgari’s Snake Watches

The serpent moves silently and uses stealth before capturing its prey. It is a daring collection that won’t ever go unnoticed and is nothing short of magnificent. It is a fusion of Haute Joaillerie and Haute Horologie that creates an artful masterpiece like the Diamond Dialed Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas 35mm Ladies Watch version # spw35d2gdg.1t shown here.
Slithering its way out of Genesis into ancient Egyptian magic, voodoo, hoodoo, pagan rituals and Native American culture, the serpent is present.
Just like a serpent shedding its skin, we all find ourselves at an auspicious time in history, a time of change, renewal, and rebirth.

BVLGARI Serpenti


The Serpent has played with an iconic role in folklore, mythology, and religion. Actually, biblical references demonstrate that the serpent was, in fact, the very first master of attraction. It’s no surprise that BVLGARI watches chose this monster to be the symbol of their assortment of Serpenti jewelry, watches, and accessories. It is truly and magnificently both mesmerizing and seductive.
The Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas 35mm Ladies Watch Model #: spp35bgdg.1t with 18kt Rose Gold Bracelet Black Dial
The BVLGARI Serpenti coils comfortably around your wrist and mesmerizes all who see it. From the signature pink sapphire cabochon into the serpent-shaped dial, Bulgari’s Serpenti collection is symbolic of the iconic reputation of the snake which has played a vital part in the world in the very start and may be here more than any of us.
  

bvlgari serpenti seduttori closeup profile

SERPENTI SEDUTTORI

KISS FROM A SNAKE

A sacred reptile in the watch collections of the Roman brand since the 1940s, the snake is shedding its skin this year to become a new pet entwining its flexible body around a woman’s wrist anytime day or night.

bvlgari serpenti seduttori closeup profileA veritable masterpiece, the strap of this new Bvlgari is as soft and supple as the body of the reptile which inspired it. Formed of scales created from gold or steel hexagonal links, it is discrete against the skin yet illuminates the wrist.

Price: 4,650 CHF (steel) – 22,800 CHF (rose gold) – 27,100 CHF (rose or yellow gold with set bezel) – 29,100 CHF (white gold with set bezel)

By Sharmila Bertin

bulgari octo roma tourbillon saphir side

OCTO ROMA TOURBILLON SAPPHIRE

TRANSPARENCY IS AN ART

Launched in 2018 with a black DLC-treated titanium case, this series returns this year with prized qualities which make it even more attractive.

While Bvlgari never ceases to amaze us with the extra-thin models of the Finissimo collection, there are other pieces which also deserve our attention, such as the Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire launched at the latest edition of Baselworld. This timepiece offers a journey into a purely mechanical universe with an open setting over a tourbillon movement. As a result, the architecture of the caliber contributes to the style of the timepiece. Within its star-shaped, deep blue skeletonized structure, the hour and minute hands pass over and point to the slimline rose gold index markers on the bridges. At 6 o’clock, the flying tourbillon placed on top of this framework regulates its hypnotic rhythm by performing one full rotation every 60 seconds. This composition comes to life within a 44-mm sandblasted rose gold case. The octagonal middle case is also made of sapphire crystal to allow more light to penetrate this exceptional mechanism.

bulgari octo roma tourbillon saphir sideThe combination of azure blue and this precious material accentuates the refined personality of this edition.

The Octo Roma Tourbillon Sapphire limited to 50 pieces comes with a stylish blue leather strap finished with a folding buckle.

Price on request

By Dan Diaconu

bulgari octo finissimo chronograph gmt caseback

OCTO FINISSIMO CHRONOGRAPH GMT

A NEW RECORD!

Sport helps you stay in shape even in the world of watchmaking. If you have your doubts, then take a look at the world’s slimmest automatic GMT chronograph, announced at Baselworld!

bulgari octo finissimo chronograph gmt casebackThe strap on this traveller’s sports watch features sanded titanium links. A folding clasp guarantees comfort and safety.

Price: 16,500 CHF

By Dan Diaconu

bulgari octo finissimo tourbillon carbon profile

OCTO FINISSIMO TB CARBON

AS LIGHT AS AIR

Records are made to be broken. Bvlgari has achieved the feat of making the world’s slimmest and lightest carbon watch to be equipped with a tourbillon.

In 2018, Bvlgari topped the podium. The Rome jewellers and watchmakers earned the prized position after launching an extra-flat, self-winding watch with the world’s thinnest tourbillon. This year, Finissimo rhymes with superleggero, and is even lighter. The brand used CTP (Carbon Thin-Ply) instead of titanium for the 42mm-wide case. So the Octo Finissimo TB Carbon weighs in at just 48 grams! The high-tech material also gives the watch an original look, with its streaked patterns. But the use of sapphire crystal for the caseback means the watch is slightly thicker than the titanium model, rising from 3.95mm to 5.38mm.

bulgari octo finissimo tourbillon carbon profileThe 50 pieces in this limited edition are worn with a carbon strap featuring a folding clasp.

Price: 130,000 CHF

By Dan Diaconu

bulgari solotempo closeup

BVLGARI BVLGARI SOLOTEMPO

INITIALS BB

43 years after its launch, the iconic collection by the Italian watchmakers, famous for its bezel engraved with the brand’s name, has had two new colours added to its wardrobe: the golden brown reflections of bronze and deep black

The Bvlgari Bvlgari watch was first created as a gift for the Italian brand’s prized customers in 1975, 43 years ago. The watch was given such a warm welcome that in 1977 Bvlgari decided to add it to its regular catalogue and make it a collection in its own right. Over the years, the watch affectionately nicknamed “BB” has found a following among clients who like refined and timeless watches and are attracted in particular by the flat bezel inscribed with the name of the Italian brand in the style of antique coins featuring Roman emperors.

bulgari solotempo closeupThe time information is shown on a finely sanded and lacquered black dial with golden hour, minute and central seconds hands making their way around an hour rim with baton indices and slender, bronze Arabic figures for the 6 and 12. The date is shown white against a black background in a counter at 3 o’clock.

Each watch comes with a second, easy-to-change strap rounded off by a tang buckle.

Price: 3,700 CHF (black DLC-coated steel) – 4,200 CHF (black DLC-coated steel and bronze) – 5,200 CHF (bronze)

By Sharmila Bertin

bulgari octo finissimo tourbillon movment

OCTO FINISSIMO TOURBILLON AUTOMATIC

AT THE FRONTIERS OF POSSIBLITY

In their pursuit of ultimate finesse, Bulgari has just taken a new step forward by unveiling an extra-flat, self-winding watch with the world’s thinnest tourbillon.

bulgari octo finissimo tourbillon movmentThe extra-flat Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic watch comes in a limited edition of just 50 pieces and is worn with a titanium strap equipped with a folding clasp.

Price: 120,000 CHF

By Dan Diaconu

bulgari octo maserati caseback

BULGARI – OCTO RETRO MASERATI

DESIGN AND DOLCE VITA

For the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Bulgari has unveiled two Octo Retro Maserati watches featuring retrograde indications and jumping hours.

The fruits of a partnership begun in 2012, the two new Bulgari Octo Retro Maserati watches, the GranSport and the GranLusso, symbolise the excellence of Italian-style luxury products. The two timepieces, one with a sports feel and the other in refined style, combine features from watchmaking and top-of-the-range cars. The point they share? An original way of reading the time. On the black grained or sunburst grey dials, depending on the model, markers run from 0 to 6, recalling the design of an analog rev counter on a GT Maserati. The indication “MIN x10” at the bottom shows the time scale. A large hand points towards the minutes in a retrograde display. When the hand reaches the 6, it instantly returns to zero and begins the process again. In a counter at 3 o’clock, a jumping hours mechanism rounds off the time information. Except for the Bulgari logo, only the Italian luxury carmaker’s famous trident symbol is included in a very simple design.

bulgari octo maserati caseback

The GranSport combines a 41.5mm, DLC-coated steel Octo case with a perforated black strap with blue stitching. The more refined GranLusso brings together a rose gold case with a brown leather strap.

Price: €12,500 (Octo Gransport) – €29,900 (Octo Granlusso)

By Dan Diaconu

bvlgari divas dream closeup

BVLGARI – DIVA’S DREAM

24 HOURS IN THE LIFE OF A PEACOCK

Enhanced by a night-time backdrop or a light-filled setting, a peacock majestically deploys its blue and bejewelled train of feathers, displaying a range of art forms on its graceful body.

The peacock is a majestic bird with a range of symbolic attributes – immortality, peace, renewal and justice, among others – and has been celebrated the world over since Antiquity. We find it fascinating when it opens its shimmering plumage like a fan with blue-green tints. Bvlgari has taken inspiration from the bird’s beauty for the dial on a sophisticated watch for women: Diva’s Dream. Because it is true, with its colours and an attitude sometimes seen as vain, the peacock could well be likened to a diva.

bvlgari divas dream closeup

The brand from Rome is highlighting the famous bird on two versions of Diva’s Dream, one representing a starry night and the other filled with daylight. The watch cases are made of white or red gold, are 37mm wide and each illuminated with a line of diamonds on the chapter ring and the cone-shaped lugs. The crown is decorated with a sapphire. The watch cases contain the calibre BVL191, an automatic movement made by Bvlgari and powering the traditional time functions (hours, minutes and seconds) while providing 42 hours of power reserve.

The dial on the “nocturnal” version of the Diva’s Dream is made of white gold, decorated with an aventurine disc, a navy-blue glass, and sparkling with tiny silver paillons, like the heavenly vault. Eight small stars, with five set with a diamond, help light up this night sky. Prominently featured on the dial is a peacock made using counter-relief engraving and decorating the dial with its plumage. Some of the cone-shaped cells, recalling the watch case lugs, are decorated with diamonds, while others are filled with shades of blue paint, from turquoise to emerald via navy blue. The peacock’s eye is embodied by a small silvery pearl, watching over the two sword-shaped hour and minute hands at the centre, along with a second hand.

For the “daytime” version of this model by Bvlgari, the layout is the same. Only the decor changes. Instead of an aventurine disc, the peacock is depicted in front of an ivory mother-of-pearl background. The iridescent reflections are highlighted by the warmth of the golden stars surrounding the bird’s neck and head.

Price on request

By Sharmila Bertin

bvlgari octo finissimo automatique closeup

BVLGARI – OCTO FINISSIMO AUTOMATIQUE

GREY IN ALL ITS GLORY 

The watchmaker from Rome has developed a new automatic movement with great finesse and that is now housed in a titanium version of the famous octagonal case of its Octo collection.

Ultra-flat, ultra-light, ultra-grey: the new model by Bvlgari was one of the timepieces the press, and particularly the specialised watch press, appreciated most at 2017 BaselWorld. Named the Octo Finissimo Automatique, this watch does indeed have numerous strengths. It not only features a magnificent grey colour and a fine graphic silhouette, but also houses a new automatic mechanism developed by Bvlgari.

The sanded titanium body repeats the gently angular outline of the Octo case; it is 40mm in diameter – a perfect size – and 5.15mm thick. Its lightness and slim figure make the Octo Finissimo Automatique a discreet but highly attractive companion.

bvlgari octo finissimo automatique closeup

At the heart of the delicately grained grey case, equipped with a sapphire back, is the brand-new calibre BVL138, a mechanical movement fitted with a platinum micro-rotor with a width of just 2.23mm. This mechanism designed and made by Bvlgari runs at 21 600 vibrations an hour and provides a power reserve of up to 60 hours. It drives the essential time displays, the hours, minutes and seconds.

On the Octo Finissimo Automatique dial, adorned with a grey tone matching the watch case, the black hour rim is made up of slender indices and long Arabic numerals. At the centre of the grey disc are two dauphine-style, openwork hands coated in black PVD displaying the hours and the minutes. The seconds, meanwhile, are offset in a counter at 7 o’clock.

This latest addition to the Bvlgari range is worn with a black alligator strap rounded off with a titanium ardillon buckle in a relatively traditional version. For a more sporting touch, the Octo Finissimo Automatique is also available with a titanium link strap with a folding clasp.

Price: 11 900 CHF (alligator strap) – 12 900 CHF (titanium strap)

By Sharmila Bertin