A BREATH OF ITALY AT WATCHES & WONDERS
Bvlgari presents exceptional timepieces while highlighting its dual expertise in fine jewellery and high watchmaking.
Channelling Bvlgari’s deeply Roman soul, the exhibition space invites visitors to immerse themselves in the Maison’s Italian culture, distinctive elegance, and avant-garde creative vision – through the most beautiful marble hues and a blend of precious materials. The experience begins at the façade, which features elements of the Razionalista Roman architectural style, making an immediate impact. Inside, seven curated showcases – inspired by Beyond Time, the definitive chronicle of the Maison’s horological history – guide visitors through the universe of Bvlgari. Each display is a chapter that tells the story of an iconic creation. Archival photographs provide historical context for the most avant-garde pieces, creating a dialogue between past and present.
Within this carefully crafted setting, Bvlgari reveals its capacity to evolve and redefine elegance in watchmaking. Here, the Maison unveils two significant new releases, two visions of time: the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon and the Serpenti Aeterna.
BVLGARI OCTO FINISSIMO ULTRA TOURBILLON – FINESSE IN EVERY DIMENSION
Beyond setting a new thinness record, the new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon stands as a manifesto. By integrating a skeleton tourbillon into the movement of a watch with a total thickness of just 1.85 mm, the Roman jeweller’s Swiss watchmaking division demonstrates its horological expertise with watchmaking’s most emblematic complication.
The tourbillon holds a special place in Bvlgari’s heart: it was the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon that launched the Maison’s pursuit of extreme thinness in 2014, setting in motion a decade-long odyssey that has led to ten world records and more than 60 international awards including the prestigious and highly coveted Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix “Aiguille d’Or”. Octo Finissimo has been by far the most awarded timepiece and collection of the 21st century so far.
Since its invention in the 18th century, the tourbillon has stood as the pinnacle of watchmaking precision. Aesthetically fascinating, its perpetual motion echoes the rhythm of a beating heart, giving soul to the timepiece. It is no coincidence that Bvlgari’s journey toward ultra-thinness began with the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon. In 2014, its hand-wound movement, just 1.95 mm thick, was the world’s thinnest flying tourbillon at the time.
SKELETONISATION – THE ART OF SCULPTING TRANSPARENCY
Today, Bvlgari has taken skeletonisation to the extreme on the new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon – to maximise light diffusion throughout the movement. This approach creates striking contrasts through contemporary decorative techniques applied to key visible components: the bezel flange’s polished slope, the finely rhodium-plated tourbillon balance and inertia blocks, and the sunburst- finished rhodium-plated tourbillon bridge. Refined modern finishes that subtly enhance the watch’s mechanical artistry. Each skeletonised component must find the right measure between efficiency and aesthetics, between resistance, reliability, and ornamentation. The margin for error is even smaller. The exposed nature of a skeleton movement demands absolute perfection in design, execution, and finishing.
THE WORLD’S THINNEST FLYING TOURBILLON
Drawing its power from its Roman heritage, the Octo collection by Bvlgari is part of a long architectural tradition. The octagonal shape was inspired by the coffered ceilings of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine. Since its foundation in 1884, the Eternal City and the splendor of its monuments have always played a central role in the creative identity of the Maison. The Octo extracts a pure, modernist vision from this heritage, through a contemporary lens. This vision is reinforced by the monochromatic grey aesthetic of the ultra-thin Octo models. This stylistic signature underlines the desire to strive for purity and the quintessence of fine watchmaking. It forms a cohesive whole that enables Bvlgari to elevate ultra-thinness to the status of a watchmaking complication.
It is a fact: Bvlgari’s new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon is now the thinnest tourbillon watch ever. Measuring 40 mm in diameter and just 1.85 mm in thickness, it is powered by the BVF 900 tourbillon calibre. This manually wound mechanical movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and offers a 42-hour power reserve. Such specifications and the records they set showcase the exceptional prowess of the watchmakers and engineers at the Bvlgari Manufacture.
By applying its expertise in finesse to the tourbillon – its most emblematic precision complication – Bvlgari expresses the essence of its watchmaking philosophy. “The idea was to create a watch that encapsulates all our expertise. It’s not just about having the finest design but achieving a precise execution that tells the story of the Octo Finissimo series, while respecting the integrity of its distinctive aesthetic codes. Every detail, from the indexes to the tourbillon skeleton, bears witness to our commitment to excellence,” explains Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Product Creation Executive Director at Bvlgari.
A HUMAN ENGINEERING JOURNEY
The hallmark of the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon is its tungsten carbide main plate that houses the mechanical movement. Watches usually consist of a case containing the movement. For centuries, watchmakers pursued flatter profiles primarily for aesthetic elegance. Traditionally, watchmakers pursued thinness for greater elegance. This objective introduced unique challenges related to structure and stiffness. To solve this complex equation, the teams at Bvlgari developed a blend of advanced materials.
The new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon features a bezel, case middle, and lugs crafted from microbead-frosted titanium, while the main plate is constructed from tungsten carbide. The two planar ‘crowns’ – each protruding ever so slightly from the side of the case, at left (8 o’clock) to wind the mechanism and at right (3 o’clock) to set the time – are fashioned from stainless steel and circular-grained; likewise, the ratchet, adorned with engraved geometric decorations, is rendered in circular-grained steel. For optimal legibility, the hour dial features rhodium-plated hour and minute hands set against a sand-blasted brass surface with an DLC anthracite coating – unlike its predecessors, the Octo Finissimo Ultra and Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC, which were regulators with two decorrelated hour and minute dials.
Perfectly complementing the watch, the integrated microbead-frosted titanium bracelet mirrors its ultra-thin aesthetic, measuring just 1.5mm thick—including the folding clasp. Once again, Bvlgari has masterfully fused complexity and elegance to create a timepiece of exceptional finesse.
PUSHING BOUNDARIES SINCE 2014 – THE QUEST FOR ULTRA-THIN WATCHMAKING IN 10 WORLD RECORDS
A masterful demonstration of extreme finesse, the new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon showcases Bvlgari’s mastery of extreme thinness and represents another breakthrough in their innovative approach to watchmaking. “Each record has been a stepping stone. Setting a record isn’t just about crossing barriers – it’s about redefining what’s possible in mechanical watchmaking. With each challenge, we’ve had to rethink not only traditional techniques but also how watches are designed and developed,” explains Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO LVMH Watches and Bvlgari.
Mobilising all the expertise of the Bvlgari Manufacture, this particularly complex project involved revisiting the traditional fundamentals of the profession to design a watch in two dimensions rather than three. This bold approach sparked fresh energy within Bvlgari’s teams, fostering unprecedented creative collaboration to tackle a challenge of this scale. Perfecting and rethinking techniques —such as returning to a two-hand display—added a deeply human touch to the entire endeavour.
To meet these challenges, Bvlgari’s R&D teams created new processes and techniques, securing eight specific patents covering innovations like the differential display, the integrated case middle and plate design, the bi-material case back, a new crystal mounting method, a novel barrel structure, the oscillator module, the modular construction, and the bracelet design.
Bvlgari’s pursuit of ultra-thinness began in 2014 with the hand-wound Octo Tourbillon. Since then, it has produced record-breaking innovations across multiple categories—the world’s thinnest minute repeater (3.12 mm in 2016), the Octo Finissimo Automatic (2.23 mm in 2017), and the thinnest perpetual calendar ever (2.75 mm in 2021), which earned the prestigious Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). Launched in 2012, the Octo quickly became an iconic design in modern watchmaking. Just ten years after the debut of the Octo saga, the Octo Finissimo Ultra set an absolute record with a total thickness of just 1.8 mm. The launch was celebrated with style and joy in the heart of Rome, on the Piazza della Rotonda, in front of the Pantheon. The Octo Finissimo Ultra was then awarded the Prix de l’Audace (the Audacity Prize) at the GPHG. Eight patents have been registered on the Octo Finissimo Ultra since 2022. With the new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon, Bvlgari continues its pursuit of finesse and refinement in every sense of the word.
SERPENTI AETERNA – A DARING AND VISIONARY EVOLUTION OF A TIMELESS ICON
The iconic Serpenti undergoes its boldest transformation yet: Aeterna. Modern. Avant-garde. Bvlgari’s legendary serpent, stylized to the extreme, distilled to its quintessential form. The pure, powerful geometry of an original bracelet. The dawn of a new era.
- A statement of style and modernity, inspired by the heritage of Bvlgari and Serpenti, transformed by a futuristic aesthetic.
- The pure essence of Serpenti captured – an eternal symbol of rebirth.
- A bangle joins the Serpenti collection, designed to pair seamlessly with Bvlgari jewellery.
- A sculptural masterpiece of timelessness, fluidity, elegance, and precision.
The year 2025, under the sign of the snake in the Chinese calendar, heralds a profound transformation for Serpenti. With Aeterna, Bvlgari brings the reptile back to life in exquisite high jewellery, conducive to sublime creativity. Diamonds illuminate the gold of the precious animal, whose new skin expresses more than ever the foundations of Bvlgari, its inimitable Italian style and its profoundly pioneering identity. The reinvented icon captures the rich heritage that precedes it and extends it into the future, free from fashion and time. The snake becomes a language in itself: fluid and free of the superfluous.
“Aeterna is more than a timepiece or jewellery — it is the ultimate expression of Bvlgari’s avant-garde vision. I wanted to capture Serpenti’s DNA, distil it to its essence, and project it into the future.” – Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Product Creation Executive Director, Bvlgari.
No eyes, no scales, no artifice. Only the serpent’s most elemental form remains – hypnotic and commanding. Crafted in precious gold and meticulously set with diamonds, Serpenti embraces the skin as an elegant bangle.
THE CREATIVE METAMORPHOSES OF AN ICON
Since 1948, Serpenti has continually reinvented itself, embodying the essence of perpetual rebirth. It seduces, enchants, captivates, and inspires desire. As Tubogas, supple and sensually coiled around the wrist. As Infiniti, graphic and sculptural. As Seduttori, created for everyday elegance yet capable of housing an exceptional tourbillon (2020). As Misteriosi, the precious guardian of a technical feat: the Piccolissimo BVL 100 calibre – with its extremely reduced dimensions, a record in miniaturization (2022). Now, Lady Solotempo, a fully in-house automatic calibre, beats at the heart of new interpretations of Seduttori and Tubogas, and another revelation of this milestone year 2025 – a tribute to the Serpent, reviving the rich tradition of mechanical watches for women.
Today, Aeterna pushes boundaries even further. Its design, far more than merely evoking the serpent, mirrors its very soul.
THE ART OF THE ESSENTIAL
“I like to design in a pure, contemporary style, with few decorative elements – to draw lines that speak the language of eternity. Octo Finissimo is a perfect expression of this quest for the absolute through form, which now transforms Serpenti. Only a few strokes were needed to sketch Aeterna. The serpent is distilled to its essence, its own dynamic, refined to its most powerful form… with visionary modernity.” – Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Product Creation Executive Director, Bvlgari.
In a single gesture, Aeterna embraces the wrist, highlighting it. A fluid movement. The sensuality of gold against skin. A geometric ring of light. Tapered, intense. Serpenti Aeterna doesn’t just define itself – it asserts its distinctive character in an elegantly refined bangle. Versatile by design, it effortlessly adapts to personal style and pairs seamlessly with other Bvlgari creations. This unprecedented design daringly wraps itself around the wrist thanks to an ingenious clasp mechanism. A truly exceptional piece, it demanded two years of development to achieve perfect aesthetic integration and comfort. The iconic hexagonal scales, a hallmark of past Serpenti designs, are subtly etched into the inner contour. Invisible from the outside, this sublimely crafted detail reinforces Aeterna’s intimate connection to Serpenti’s extraordinary heritage.
AN ETERNAL ELEGANCE
Bvlgari unveils Serpenti Aeterna in rose gold, adorned with diamonds, as well as a high-jewellery interpretation in fully pavé-set white gold. Precious gemstones illuminate the snow-set dial, extending along the spine to the very tip of the tail. On the white gold version, oversized gems create a striking three-dimensional effect, enhancing the object’s mesmerizing volumes.
Serpenti Aeterna is born of a single, visionary gesture. The quintessence of Serpenti, this avant- garde icon is meant to be experienced today, tomorrow, and for eternity. Time itself lingers, seemingly suspended.
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