bulgari debuts 'octo roma' with chronograph & centered tourbillon at watches & wonders

Bulgari’s new Octo Roma at Watches & Wonders 2023

Bulgari has redesigned its signature 2012-born Octo Roma series with a line of repositioned tourbillons and chronograph functions at Watch and Wonders 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland from March 27th to April 2nd, 2023. The distinctive, non-circular design of the timepieces combines nuances of Italian history, the home of Bugari, with Swiss-making techniques honed by technical precision and visual artistry. The Octo Roma collection welcomes four tourbillon models, a chronograph type, and an automatic class.

Octo Roma underlines a unique and round-but-not-round shape which affords a nod to Bulgari’s Roman roots and rich heritage. The octagonal shape pays homage to historical Italian architecture, appearing in structures such as the Pantheon and the works of Leonardo da Vinci, and in particular, the eight-sided geometry characterizes the vaults of the Basilica of Maxentius, built in the 4th century on one of Rome’s most important architectural sites.

images courtesy of Bulgari

Striking Papillon Tourbillon

The redesigned case for the Octo Roma Striking Papillon Tourbillon and Striking Tourbillon Sapphire by Bulgari features smooth curves for a more refined and lighter feel as shown at Watches & Wonders 2023. The first duo anchors a modern, sporty approach to Haute Horlogerie, a personal interpretation by Bulgari.

The design is streamlined, and the material-color dialogue is crisp and edgy. The Tourbillon is alternately displayed either at 6 o’clock or center stage. The hour can be read through a fixed window at noon, while the minutes are displayed on a semicircle graduated from 0 to 60 and alternately traversed by two diamond-shaped hands.

The watches are easily readable with their luminescent white double tips. Meanwhile, its opposite counterpart has returned to its resting position at 180°, no longer pointing to the timer. At the end of 60 minutes, the ballet is reversed: the hand that was in use until then moves to the horizontal position, while the other begins to move back to the vertical position.

Octo Roma Chronograph

The Octo Roma Chronograph, which makes its debut in the collection, has a streamlined dial with a clear and legible display in blue or black. It has a chronograph function with a central seconds hand, a 30-minute counter, and a 12-hour counter, allowing it to precisely measure elapsed time. The date window is located between 4 and 5 o’clock.

The three sunburst counters are located at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, allowing for rapid and intuitive chronograph readings. The Calibre BVL 399 is an in-house mechanical movement made in Switzerland with automatic winding. The mechanism is dubbed highly accurate and dependable, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and winding itself using the wearer’s wrist movements.

Octo Roma Automatic

The 41mm automatic mechanical version named Octo Roma Automatic comprises three hands and date and is powered by the in-house Calibre BVL 191 featuring a power reserve of 42 hours. The dial is both easy to read and visually appealing, and the Clous de Paris symbol adds a touch of refinement. The watch uses a historical Swiss Haute Horlogerie motif and combines it with the Italian-style design thanks to the pattern which forms a succession of miniature pyramids.

The model is available in three dial color variations enhanced by the 3D appearance of the Clous de Paris technology – blue, anthracite, and white – giving the wearer plenty of alternatives based on their particular style. Bulgari says that the blue dial has a classic and timeless appeal, and the white dial stands out with its striking and startling presence.

finely chiseled and handmade timepieces

The two other tourbillons, Octo Roma Precious Naturalia and ‘Tourbillon Lumière’, share the same mineral element of either hard stone or diamond, finely chiseled and handmade while intertwining with a Roman-style watchmaking. In Octo Roma Precious Naturalia, the plate is visible on the dial side and is adorned with a tiger’s eye, a chatoyant hard stone with brown and gold accents, seamed with fine mineral veins of lighter hues.

The Octo Roma Precious Tourbillon Lumière is the collection’s only female-targeted design. From its volutes and volumes to its light and color, the watch exhibits Bulgari jewelers’ skills e. Instead of a dial, this piece features a skeletonized movement with rose gold lacework. Two central hands mirror the color as they circle the diamond minute track, accented every five minutes by a ruby. By 6 o’clock, the tourbillon appears to be suspended. Diamonds cover the entire case, including the bezel, case center, lugs, and crown.