You may recall an earlier post about Bulgari’s new Octo Finissimo Sketch, two new models marking 140 years of the brand, featuring hand-drawn sketches by Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani.

In that post, we mentioned two launch models in two limited editions in stainless steel (280 pieces) and rose gold (70 pieces). Both are 40mm with a thickness of 6.4mm, and water resistant to 100m.

There was also a single image that was released at that point, of the Ref 104192 Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Sketch. In a tri-compax format, it has 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 is 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.

We had the opportunity to handle two of these Sketch models in Geneva last month, so this is just a quick update post with some live photos, plus some thoughts.

In the metal, these are fun watches and as you would expect from the range, if you’re familiar with it, light and easy to wear. They are essentially about the dial design, so in that sense, it’s either going to be something that instinctively appeals to you, and if you’re a fan of dials with sketched components on them you’ll most probably like it, or it is not.

If it is, then they are actually better live than in the official press photos, because the ‘lightness’ (not of weight, but of the whole ‘sketched’ design touch) is best communicated when you handle it. That the sketches are by the brand’s product designer gives the watch a personal touch that is aligned to the brand itself and of this (140 years) time.

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.

Categories: watches