From September 4 to 7, 2025, Geneva will host a new edition of Geneva Watch Days, a now must-attend event for enthusiasts. Created in 2020 at the initiative of Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari, this event has been able to distinguish itself from the big salons by its inclusive and less formal spirit, offering direct contact between maisons, independent personalities and the public.
Today we are going to tell you about Bvlgari, which comes with a rich program: from a retrospective dedicated to the history of the Octo Finissimo (a collection that rewrote the canons of ultra-thin watchmaking) to novelties capable of combining art, material and technique.
Curious to find out?
Octo Finissimo Lee Ufan x Bvlgari
The first novelty is a marriage of excellence between art and watchmaking. The Octo Finissimo Lee Ufan x Bvlgari is immediately recognizable by its mirror dial, clear and devoid of decoration, on which only thin black hands move. It is a dial meant to evoke the silent presence of reflection, just as in the Korean artist’s works, in a play that transforms the watch into a contemplative experience.
The 40 mm case in sandblasted titanium retains the octagonal architecture that has made the collection famous, with thicknesses reduced to just 5.5 mm. Complementing it is the entirely handcrafted bracelet, also in titanium, formed by geometric links that alternate between satin-finished surfaces and sharper edges. The integrated folding clasp ensures continuity and lightness, so that the watch, despite being made of metal, conveys a feeling of extreme lightness on the wrist.
Inside is the BVL 138 automatic caliber with micro-rotor, one of the world’sthinnest movements(2.23 mm thick) with a 60-hour power reserve. The transparent case back displays the manufacture’s traditional decorations and, most importantly, Lee Ufan‘s signature, making it a personal and unrepeatable object.
Only 150 enthusiasts will be lucky enough to wear it.
Octo Finissimo Marble Tourbillon
The second creation surprises with its choice of dial material: a deep blue marble, polished to reveal unique and irregular veins. Each specimen is different from the other given the randomness of the striations within the marble. The contrast between the stone’s hardness and its brittleness at very thin thicknesses makes this dial a challenge won thanks to the great technique of Le Sentier‘s manufacture.
A 40 mm platinum case just 5.75 mm thick wraps this deep blue surface, with gray hour markers and hands that almost seem to emerge from the stone. On the wrist, the blue alligator strap echoes the same hues, making for an elegant and coherent ensemble.
Inside is the BVL caliber 268, a hand-wound movement only 1.95 mm thick, with flying tourbillon and 52-hour power reserve.
Limited to 30 pieces, it is a watch that combines Roman classicism and avant-garde watchmaking.
Bvlgari Aluminium Bronze
Alongside the lightness of the Octo, Bvlgari offers a return to matter with the new Aluminium Bronzo, a model that has enshrined the brand’s history. Here the protagonist is bronze, a metal that changes over time with a personal patina, a sign of the wearer’s life.
The GMT model features a 40mm case in sandblasted bronze paired with the iconic black rubber bezel. The black dial, with 24-hour GMT disc, is enhanced by sandblasted rose gold hands with Super-LumiNova for clear reading of the two time zones. It is animated by the automatic caliber B192, with a 50-hour power reserve.
The Chronograph , on the other hand, pushes the dynamic envelope: 41 mm case in sandblasted bronze, DLC titanium pushers, and matte black dial with azuré chronograph counters and tachymeter scale. Rose gold hands lend warmth, while the automatic B381 caliber guarantees precision and 42 hours of power reserve.
Both models are complemented by the distinctive black rubber bracelet with bronze links and Velcro closure-a hallmark of the collection.
Conclusions
For more than a decade Bulgari has been on a path that has turned watchmaking upside down, increasingly consolidating itself among the greats of the industry. Its ability to innovate goes beyond the individual object: it is the result of a clear vision and constant creative direction, devoted to pushing the limits. The question then is inevitable: will we soon see a new record signed Bulgari?
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