Bvlgari continues its annual streak (8 years ~running) of breaking some world record for thinness. This one is pretty bonkers. 1.8mm thin … not the movement, the entire case. Thinnest mechanical was basically the only record not yet held by Bvlgari, held until now by Piaget’s Altiplano Ultimate Concept (2mm) as of 2018 (previously held by JLC’s 3.8mm watch). The Octo Finissimo Ultra is has now vested the Piaget concept by 10%. 50hr power reserve Limited initially to 10 pieces (for the 10yr anniversary of the Octo—F) at EUR 400K a piece, notice that the QR code on the “barrel” will relate to a digital NFT to validate and blockchain-verify ownership and authenticity of the watch
I think the picture above might have been a prototype. Here's the pic from Hodinkee, looks a little more finessed:
I saw a video on this watch yesterday. Absolutely insane. Its nice to see companies pursuing this and pushing the envelope. Reading about philosophies of different companies from the 40's and 50's thinnest was as much as pursuit as other horological complications.
Tastes of course are like [noses]: everyone’s got their own In the metal, [to me] one of the most exciting and innovative watches/brands of the last decade (not without its issues though) - and not to suggest it’s for everyone, of course. But while Rolex is out here “wowing” by changing the sub dimensions by 1mm after 10 years, Bvlgari has broken (and in one instance re-broken it’s own and reclaimed) a world record in horology for 8 of the 10 years since the Finissimo was released, and none of those records have been re-captured yet by the usual brands (JCP, Piaget, etc.)
Regardless of the looks that is amazing craftsmanship, engineering. I find it amazing. Interesting to see they are also using blockchain form authenticity/ownership I know at least one other of the big brands was doing that I already forgot which.
Many years ago Concord produced their Delirium IV quartz watch that was only 0.98 mm thick. But due to the thinness the crystal had a tendency to pop off when strapped on, it was essentially unwearable. Once you get ultra thin you run in to a whole bunch of new issues. These super thin watches get very fragile.
i imagine every time you want to take a wristshot, the QR-code scanner pops up and takes you to their website
Not personally a fan of the aesthetics but how-the-actual-fudge do you get 50 hours power reserve out of a squashed penny? I find it strangely comforting in these tempestuous times that some people, somewhere, are massively over-engineering mechanical wrist watches just for the glorious, pointless sake of it. Carry on.
Would you prefer cash or check? Interestingly on this point, Bvlgari managed to squeeze in a seconds indicator unlike the Piaget’s concept watch it overtook
Actually, if you have a second phone, I recommend scanning the QR of the marketing example photographed above - it does, indeed, take you to a special website about this model, and among other interesting bits explains that unlike the marketing watch/photographs (eg above) the 10 production pieces will be a “vault” for the NFT smart contract on the blockchain
I suspect that this will also be mostly a display piece. It won't take much deflection to cause the train to either stop or be affected greatly. Winding this would also be....interesting. These projects are more about bragging rights than being practical, wearable watches.
