It’s mind-boggling to think that Bulgari’s legion of Octo Finissimo watches has conquered the landscape of ultra-thin watches with ten world records in just 11 years. Equally impressive is the Octo Finissimo’s potent cocktail of horological virtuosity and contemporary Italian style. While the Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days did not break any ultra-thin records, it is nevertheless a lean machine with a hefty 192-hour power reserve and the iconic octagonal architecture of the family. Treated to a third wardrobe change, the latest incarnation of the watch combines alluring contrasts with a black DLC titanium case and rose gold accents.
When it was unveiled in 2022, the Octo Finissimo Skeleton broke ranks with its record-breaking siblings and did not appear in the archetypal sandblasted titanium suit. Instead, it appeared in rose gold armour in a 40mm case with an ultra-lean profile of just 5.95mm and a leather strap. Inspired by architectural motifs of Imperial Rome in a defiantly modern key, the stepped octagonal profile and 110 facets of the case form the foundations of creative director Fabrizio Buonamassa’s iconic design. In 2023, the watch performed a volte-face and returned to the emblematic monochromatic titanium look.
The latest wardrobe change involves a dashing mix of matte black DLC-coated titanium and warm rose gold. This elegant and sophisticated suit has an air of the black and gold John Player Special livery of Lotus Formula 1 cars of the 1970s. Black is renowned for its light-absorbing and slimming properties, meaning the stacked octagonal structure of the case is less evident and the watch looks even slimmer than its gold and titanium counterparts. Standing out against the all-black case, the rose gold crown, used for setting and winding the watch, is fitted with a black ceramic insert.
Visible from both sides, Bulgari’s ultra-slim 2.5mm manual-winding calibre BVL 199 SK is skeletonised and revealed underneath a complex network of openworked matte black bridges and plates secured by bright pink rubies. Compared to the scant visibility of the monochromatic titanium model, the use of contrasting rose gold elements significantly enhances legibility.
The massive barrel and its long mainspring (it is as large as it possibly can, only limited by the central axis of the hands), responsible for the formidable 192-hour or 8-day power reserve, can be seen dial-side between 12 and 2 o’clock. Suspended above the movement is a small seconds counter with a spoked wheel with rose gold-plated markings, while a power reserve indicator with cutout bars appears between 7 and 8 o’clock. The black beam containing the power reserve indicator is interrupted by the hour and minute hands, but continues on the right side with a golden inscription of BVLGARI and the “eightdays” allusion to the power reserve below.
To read the time, the octagonal chapter ring with golden minute markers has 10 applied rose gold-plated indices and an Arabic numeral 12. There is no trace of luminescent material on the dial, and the rose gold-plated hour and minute hands are skeletonised. The caseback is held in place by eight screws, and the flat crystal reveals more components of the sophisticated 3Hz manual-winding movement produced by Bulgari’s manufacture in Le Sentier, Switzerland.
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Skeleton 8 Days in black DLC titanium is paired with a sporty black rubber strap and a black DLC-coated titanium pin buckle. It retails for EUR 28,000. For more details, please visit bulgari.com.
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