Geneva Watch Days has once again proved why it remains one of the most anticipated weeks on the watch calendar, with independent watchmakers and major brands bringing out months, sometimes years, of work and offering a look at where the industry is heading next. From motorsport-inspired skeletons to complex commemorative tourbillons, this year’s releases have covered just about every corner of modern watchmaking. Bvlgari is adding its own chapter to the mix with three new creations that have one very specific thing in common: titanium.
The lightweight metal has long had a place in watchmaking, particularly in pieces where performance and everyday comfort take center stage. Bvlgari, however, is approaching it from a few different angles. The Octo Finissimo Dual Time x Vianney Halter combines Bvlgari’s in-house expertise with the mechanical creativity of the independent watchmaker, marking the first time the two have collaborated directly on a movement. The Octo Finissimo Dazzle takes a more artistic route, using laser engraving to transform the titanium case into an almost hypnotic optical illusion. Then there’s the Bvlgari Titanio, which brings the material into the Aluminium collection for a lighter, more everyday take. Three watches, three very different personalities, and a pretty good demonstration of just how much can be done with a material that’s usually looked at simply for being light.
Octo Finissimo Dual Time × Vianney Halter
Bvlgari is venturing into new territory with the Octo Finissimo Dual Time × Vianney Halter, marking the first time an independent watchmaker has collaborated directly with the collection. The pairing brings together the Octo Finissimo’s Italian design DNA with Halter’s retro-futuristic approach to watchmaking. The collaboration comes in two limited editions: 30 pieces in brushed titanium and just 15 in polished satin pink gold. Both feature the Octo Finissimo’s 40.5mm case and ultra-thin proportions while introducing four individual opaline dials, blue hands, a red arrow seconds hand, and Halter’s signature on the rotor. Behind it all is Bvlgari’s new BVF 200 automatic movement with a micro-rotor, 60-hour power reserve, and dedicated modules for GMT, date, and day/night indications. It’s an impressive amount of mechanical work packed into one watch.
Octo Finissimo Dazzle
The Octo Finissimo has never been shy about pushing the boundaries of what a watch can look like, but the new Octo Finissimo Dazzle takes that idea to a whole new level. Crafted from a 40mm titanium case, the watch is covered in a geometric pattern designed to play games with your eyes, essentially camouflaging the silhouette that makes the Octo Finissimo so recognizable. At certain angles, the case, dial, and integrated bracelet almost seem to disappear into one continuous pattern. The inspiration comes from an unlikely place: automotive camouflage. Just as manufacturers use fragmented patterns to disguise a prototype during testing, Bvlgari uses laser engraving to disrupt the Octo Finissimo’s styling. The pattern is etched directly into the titanium using a technique mastered in-house, something too difficult to do by hand. It’s an interesting twist on the idea of dial legibility, too. Instead of making the time easier to read, the Dazzle deliberately lets the design completely take over.
Titanio
Bvlgari is giving its Aluminium collection a new direction with the Titanio, trading aluminum for grade 5 titanium while keeping the combination of rubber and the collection’s Italian design intact. It’s familiar at first glance, but noticeably more contemporary on the wrist. The new Titanio comes in two versions, a GMT and a Chronograph. The 40 mm GMT keeps things clean and understated, with a black-and-gray dial, 24-hour display, and Bvlgari’s automatic B192 movement offering 50 hours of power reserve. The 41 mm Chronograph takes a slightly sportier approach, pairing its brushed titanium case with a redesigned chronograph layout and tachymetric scale, powered by the automatic B381 calibre. Together, the two watches show how much room there is to evolve the Aluminium formula without losing what made it work in the first place.
Source: BVLGARI
