Once upon a time, the idea that Bulgari’s watches might become something significant in their own right (separate to the brand’s traditional offerings) may not have been something that a lot of people would have placed bets on, but models such as the Octo Finissimo have long quashed any such doubts, with its pursuit of breaking horological records and both the finding and cementing of its own place within the watchmaking world.

For the collection’s tenth birthday in 2022 Bulgari debuted its first Octo Finissimo Sketch, which placed the original design sketches of the chronograph on the dial. Now, to mark 140 years of the brand, they have announced the new Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch, with the two launch models that feature a sketched open-worked dial, drawn by Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani.

The first 2024 Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch will be available in two limited editions in stainless steel (280 pieces) and rose gold (70 pieces). Both are 40mm with a thickness of 6.4mm and are water resistant to 100m.

These latest Sketch models have dials with images of the hand-drawn depictions of the movement’s design as seen through the case back – you can see the micro-rotor, escapement, bridges, Côtes de Genève and circular graining finishing, screws, and rubies. The ‘view from the back’ is extended to the absence of markers on the dial, in order to keep it clean. The hour and minute hands are skeletonised, with a seconds hand at 7 o’clock.

Seen through the actual case back is the automatic in-house BVL 138. With a platinum micro-rotor, it beats at 21,600 VPH and has a 60 hour power reserve. The case back is has “EDIZIONE LIMITATA” and “1884 – 2024” to mark the limitation.

The stainless steel version is all about gray, from the case to the dial, with its sketched depiction of the movement, and black bead-blasted PVD hands. There is a mix of polished and satin finishing on the case, with a brushed bezel, and the bracelet is a mix of polished and satin-brushed finishing.

The 18K 5N rose gold version has a mix of polished and satin-finishing on its case and bracelet, with the sketch and hands, in dark gray. The hands are black bead-blasted PVD.

There is a third Sketch model that will be released at a later date and for which Bulgari have only released one image – the Ref 104192 Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Sketch. In a tri-compax format, it will have a central seconds hand, 30-minute chronograph, second time zone at 3 o’clock, and small seconds at 9 o’clock. It will be in a 43mm steel case with a mix of polished and satin-brushed finishing.

Limited to 140 pieces and in a 43mm stainless steel case (8.75mm thick), it will be powered by the automatic BVL 318, which has a platinum micro-rotor, beats at 21,600 VPH, and has a power reserve of 55 hours. The dial will show this movement, column wheel and all. It will also have “EDIZIONE LIMITATA” and Bulgari’s anniversary, “1884 – 2024.” on the back.

These first two Octo Finissimo Automatic Sketch 140th Anniversary limited editions have Australian RRPs of $26,600/ EUR 17,800 for the steel model, and $76,900/ EUR 51,000 for the rose gold version.

[Photo credit: Bulgari]

Categories: Bvlgari, Limited Editions, Watch Profile, watches, Women's watches