INTRODUCING: The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra - The World’s Thinnest Wrist Watch
Bulgari has long been one to push limits. Probably the brand’s most successful limits has been it’s ability to create some of the thinnest mechanical watches in the world. Last year, Richard Mille came out of nowhere with the haymaker that was the Ferrari UP-01 with a record breaking 1.75mm thickness - The thinnest mechanical watch ever made. Not to be outdone, Bulgari put their heads down and… well. Let’s just say there’s a new winner in town. Bulgari has just launched the new Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra - A 1.7mm COSC certified sport watch that now holds the trophy for the thinnest mechanical watch ever made. No big deal though, right?
THE BASICS:
Brand: Bulgari
Model: Octo Finissimo Ultra
Case Material: Titanium or Platinum
Case Size: 40mm x 1.7mm
Water Resistance:
Movement: BVL 180 Manufacture Caliber
Movement Specs: 1.5mm thick, 50-hour Power Reserve, 4-Hz
Strap Options: Matching Octo Bracelet
Why is the bulgari octo finissimo ultra important?
When it comes to the ultra-record-breaking thin watches, there are really 3 major heavy hitters making headway in the market. There’s Bulgari (Who I’d argue is the real front-runner), Richard Mille, though Richard Mille just threw their hat in the ring last year, and Piaget - Who’s been real quiet since Richard Mille dropped the UP-01. The friendly rivalries have really catapulted the ultra-thin luxury into the spotlight, with a lot of the “Thinnest Watches in the World” records being outdone each year. Is it necessarily the most practical application for watchmaking? Probably not. But damn is it fun.
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra isn’t exactly a new watch. The brand released a previous version of the watch in 2022 that measures in at 1.8mm and some change. Since then, Richard Mille released the UP-01 which measured in at 1.75mm, breaking Bulgari’s record. So here we are. Bulgari is once again taking the trophy and stepping back on the Podium.
To accomplish this feat required some engineering prowess. For starters, in order to really shave off that extra tenth of a millimeter, the brand had to almost reinvent the watch and it’s assembly. For starters, the caseback itself functions as the mainplate for the ultra-thin BVL180 Caliber. Each piece was measured with a 1/10-micron option measuring system to make sure every single component was as thin as it could be, and fit together as seamlessly as it could be. Further, the Hour and minute dials, as well as the oversize barrel were adjusted to minimize the footprint of the bezel and crystal. It’s not readily noticeable, but it’s there.
“Is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra fragile?”
The long and short of it, is that any watch this thin could be really fragile. Although Bulgari has taken precautions with the case material to help shield it from bending. Utilizing an ultra-hard Tungsten Carbide, the watch is significantly more rugged than one might think. Is it foolproof? No. But it helps.
To accomplish this feat required some engineering prowess. For starters, in order to really shave off that extra tenth of a millimeter, the brand had to almost reinvent the watch and it’s assembly. For starters, the caseback itself functions as the mainplate for the ultra-thin BVL180 Caliber. Each piece was measured with a 1/10-micron option measuring system to make sure every single component was as thin as it could be, and fit together as seamlessly as it could be. Further, the Hour and minute dials, as well as the oversize barrel were adjusted to minize the footprint of the bezel and crystal. It’s not readily noticable, but it’s there.
“Is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra fragile?”
The long and short of it, is that any watch this thin could be really fragile. Although Bulgari has taken precautions with the case material to help shield it from bending. Utilizing an ultra-hard Tungsten Carbide, the watch is significantly more rugged than one might think. Is it foolproof? No. But it helps.
With winding a watch this thin, it could be a bit daunting. So the brand will include a special winding case that gently winds the watch at a specific interval as to not intentionally damage the movement. It’s a safer way to wind the watch, and generally something to keep the buyers mind at ease.
An achievement for the brand
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra has for sure won it’s share of awards. It’s crowned itself in a place that many watchmakers typically don’t want to even attempt to go. It’s innovation at it’s finest - And further, it’s innovation for fun. And once again, Bulgari becomes the front runner of the space.
And further, this year, the brand is offering the watch in a limited edition Platinum case. Platinum itself is notoriously difficult to shape, so this in itself is quite another achievement for Bulgari. And in another first, the watch will measure in at 1.8mm even in Platinum - A first in the entire industry. With precious metals, it can often be challenging to hold integrity with really precise measurements like this.
Overall, this is a win for Bulgari. The brand has long been a risk-taker and a record breaker, so to see yet another record being broken by a brand at the forefront of haute-y progress is both unsurprising and exciting. We very much look forward to seeing what else Bulgari has up it’s sleeve for future releases.
How much is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra?
Currently, each of the Titanium and Platinum models will be limited to just 20 pieces and come with a price tag of $529,000 USD.
Read more about the watch on the brands website here.