japanese architect tadao ando has collaborated with BVLGARI to reimagine its octo finissimo watch, the world’s thinnest automatic chronograph. working with bulgari’s director of watch design, fabrizio bonamassa stigliani, ando pulls inspiration from concrete, a material that ‘has given buildings a unique personality’ and conveys his architectural design.

tadao ando designs octo finissimo watch for BVLGARI

images courtesy of BVLGARI

 

 

characterised by its sleek, modernist form, BVLGARI‘s octo finissimo automatic was introduced only in 2017. in its latest iteration, andao has designed a simple geometry with a spiral motif inspired by the concentric circles found in japanese zen gardens, that emanates from the seconds hand creating the image of a wave that ripples across the entire dial.

 

the tadao ando edition is limited to only 200 pieces and features a titanium bracelet.
on the back of the watch, BVLGARI’s ultra-thin self-winding mechanical movement with a platinum micro-rotor is visible through a sapphire case-back. 

tadao ando designs octo finissimo watch for BVLGARI

 

 

the watch is rated waterproof up to 30 meters and finished with ando’s signature. ando’s reimagined watch can be found on bvlgari’s japanese website, priced at ¥1,980,000 JPY (approximately $18,266 USD).

 

tadao ando is an acclaimed japanese architect who has designed a host of celebrated projects around the world, including the church of the light in osaka, the expansion of the clark art institute in massachusetts, and the poly grand theater in shanghai. the self-taught architect has also been actively engaged in social contribution projects focused on environmental restoration and post-disaster reconstruction.

 

ando’s work frequently combines large expanses of unadorned concrete walls with wooden or stone floors and large windows. ando has held solo exhibitions at the museum of modern art (MoMA) in 1991 and centre pompidou in 1993 and has taught as a visiting professor at yale university, columbia university, and harvard university. the architect has held the position of professor emeritus of the university of tokyo since 2003.

 

project info

 

company: BVLGARI
architect: tadao ando
model: octo finissimo automatic 2019
price: ¥1,980,000 JPY (approximately $18,266 USD).