Bulgari Octo Automatic watch sets the world record for the thinnest automatic watch on the market.
Here at Baselworld 2017, Bulgari unveils its third record-setting Octo watch. The Octo Finissimo Automatic timepiece sets a world record for being the slimmest automatic watch on the market. The 41mm timepiece beats out the previous record holder by tiny fractions and does so with a movement consisting of 130 parts and a platinum rotor to fully wind the watch and offer 55 hours of power reserve.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic unveiled at Baselworld 2017
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic ultra-thin self-winding watch was several years in the making and had help from the brand’s previous Octo record setting watches (Octo Finissimo Tourbillon and Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater). The previous record holder for the thinnest automatic watch on the market was Piaget, whose movement was 2.35mm thin and the case was 5.25mm thin. Bulgari sets a new bar with a movement that is 2.23mm thick and the final case watch that measures just 5.15mm in thickness.
Bulgari’s haute horlogerie watches are built by a specialized team of master watchmakers in the brand’s Manufacture. The newest watch retails for just about 12,900 Swiss francs. Stay tuned for more details and hands on photos after Baselworld.
Bulgari’s unveiling of the Octo Finissimo Automatic Ultra-Thin watch is its third record-setting Octo.
Tech Specs of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic:
Movement
Mechanical Manufacture movement with automatic winding via a platinum micro-rotor; Caliber BVL 138 Finissimo, decorated with Côtes de Genève finishing, chamfered bridges and a circular-grained mainplate; 2.23mm thick, 36.60mm in diameter, 21,600 V/H, 60h power reserve;
Case and dial
40mm case in sandblasted titanium, transparent case-back, 5.15mm thick; titanium crown with ceramic insert; water-resistant to 30m; titanium dial, black hands with PVD treatment;
Bracelet/Strap
Titanium bracelet with folding clasp or black alligator leather with titanium pin buckle.
Hello:
I am a new email subscriber to A Timely Perspective. I first found about it just last month when I was in NYC on vacation. I love the daily emails I get and I am slowly working my way through the tons of articles written by Roberta Naas — all of which are fascinating and very well written.
This is not really a reply or comment, but I have a somewhat general question for Ms. Naas. I am slowly building on my watch collection — it’s been a passion of mine for many years, but only in the past couple of years have I really started acquiring “good” timepieces and have done lots of research into the vast selection of new and notable timepieces.
My question is: What are your thoughts on buying “certified pre-owned” watches from places like Tourneau, Hodinkee, etc.? I know that watches, like cars, drop significantly in value once a watch moves from the store display case window to the wrist. I have seen many tempting pieces well priced offerings in the “certified pre-owned” distribution network but am a little leary. I know that Tourneau offers servicing and a warranty etc. on all their watches, so that gives me some comfort, but I am still not sure if the pre-owned watch is the way to go for someone like me — a new (but pasionate) watch collector. I love buying new watches and always buy them directly from the brand boutiques because I get a sense of security buying a watch directly out of the box in a boutique branded store. My newest addition is the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo which I bought last week and which has been my “watch of the day” since I bought it.
Do you have any thoughts/comments about the “certified pre-owned” market? Is it a good idea, a bad idea, or does it depend entirely on the brand or the seller or something else I have not even thought about? Any thoughts/comments you can share with me would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to a response.
Thank you for your comment and email. This is a strong topic of conversation and I am all for purchasing certified, pre-owned watches from the right sources. By buying pre-owned, you can often find a good price on a good watch that you may otherwise not have the means to purchase. However, do your homework before buying a pre-owned watch. If you are buying for investment purposes, keep in mind that just because it is a good brand – it does not ensure that it will go up in value. Many aspects come into play, including genre, rarity, original components (including movement parts, hands, dials, etc). These are the things you need to investigate. If you are buying a pre-owned watch just for its looks- go for it. But based on what you are saying herein, you want more than just good looks. There are many reputable places to buy a certified pre-owned watch where they will have inspected it for originality and where they can advise you along the purchasing path.