Bvlgari Joins Watches & Wonders For The First Time, Arriving With Two Insane Watches
For the first time, Bvlgari has joined the prestigious Watches & Wonders event in Geneva (officially showing at the Palexpo, that is—goodbye President Wilson), marking a symbolic milestone for the Roman Maison. Debuting at this global watchmaking summit in 2025, Bvlgari showcases its dual mastery of high jewelry and fine horology with two new Bvlgari watches: the record-breaking Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon and the daringly avant-garde Serpenti Aeterna. “We are thrilled to join Watches & Wonders for the first time, especially in a space designed to fully express our DNA as both a jewelry and watchmaking Maison,” says Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari—now the CEO of LVMH Watches. “Over the past decade, we have cemented our position at the forefront of horology, seamlessly blending Swiss innovation with Italian design genius.” This debut celebrates 25 years of watchmaking excellence under LVMH’s guidance and a legacy of “creative passion” that began with the Octo Finissimo in 2014. That journey has since yielded 10 world records and 13 revolutionary movements in just 11 years—testaments to Bvlgari’s relentless pursuit of innovation. Bvlgari’s exhibition space at Watches & Wonders is a breathtaking tribute to its Eternal City roots. Inspired by Roman architecture—think the Razionalista style and the Basilica of Maxentius—the façade greets visitors with striking marble hues and precious materials. Inside, seven curated showcases, drawn from Beyond Time (the Maison’s horological chronicle), narrate Bvlgari’s story through iconic creations and archival imagery. This immersive dialogue between past and present sets the stage for the unveiling of two extraordinary timepieces. Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon: A New Pinnacle of Finesse Photo Credit: Courtesy of BvlgariThe Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon is a manifesto. With a total thickness of just 1.85 mm, it claims Bvlgari’s 10th world record as the thinnest tourbillon ever crafted. Powered by the BVF 900 manual-wound tourbillon caliber, this 40 mm marvel beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) with a 42-hour power reserve. Since the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon launched in 2014 with a then-record-breaking 1.95 mm flying tourbillon movement, Bvlgari has redefined ultra-thin watchmaking. The new Ultra Tourbillon takes this legacy further with a skeletonized design that maximizes light diffusion. Polished rhodium-plated components and a sunburst-finished tourbillon bridge create a mesmerizing interplay of transparency and precision. “We wanted to encapsulate all our expertise—not just in design but in execution—while honoring the Octo Finissimo’s aesthetic codes,” explains Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bvlgari’s Executive Director of Watch Design. The result is a modernist masterpiece, its octagonal form inspired by Rome’s architectural grandeur and rendered in microbead-frosted titanium with a tungsten carbide main plate. A sleek 1.5 mm titanium bracelet completes the ultra-thin aesthetic. This achievement builds on a decade of records—from the thinnest minute repeater (2016) to the Octo Finissimo Ultra (2022)—and reflects Bvlgari’s innovative spirit, backed by eight patents for the Ultra Tourbillon alone. “Each record redefines what’s possible in mechanical watchmaking,” Babin notes. Serpenti Aeterna: The Snake Reborn Photo Credit: Courtesy of BvlgariThe Serpenti Aeterna is Bvlgari’s boldest evolution of its iconic serpent yet. Stripped to its essence—no eyes, no scales, just pure geometry—this avant-garde creation fuses high jewelry with futuristic design. Launched in 2025, the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, Aeterna reimagines the reptile as a sculptural bangle that pairs seamlessly with Bvlgari’s jewelry collections. “Aeterna is the ultimate expression of our avant-garde vision,” says Buonamassa Stigliani. “I wanted to distill Serpenti’s DNA and project it into the future.” Crafted in rose gold with brilliant-cut diamonds or fully pavé-set white gold with oversized gems, its fluid form wraps the wrist with an ingenious clasp mechanism. Subtle hexagonal scales etched inside nod to its heritage, while the exterior radiates timeless elegance. Photo Credit: Courtesy of BvlgariSince 1948, Serpenti has embodied rebirth through designs like Tubogas and Seduttori. Now, Aeterna joins this lineage, offering quartz-powered versions with diamond-set dials and cases in rose or white gold. It’s a statement of modernity rooted in Bvlgari’s Roman soul—eternal, yet unbound by time. The new Bvlgari watches debut underscores its transformation from Roman jeweler to Swiss watchmaking powerhouse within the LVMH family. As Babin reflects, “Watches & Wonders offers the perfect stage to showcase our journey—one that continues to shape the future of horology.” For Bvlgari, time is not just measured; it’s reimagined. Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon (Ref. 104313) Specifications: Movement: BVF 900 manual-winding tourbillon, ultra-thin mechanical movement Case: 40 mm sandblasted titanium with tungsten carbide main plate Bracelet: 1.5 mm sandblasted titanium with integrated folding buckle Dial: Sandblasted brass with anthracite DLC coating, rhodium-plated hands Functions: Hours, minutes Power Reserve: 42 hours Serpenti Aeterna (Ref. 104205 S / 104280 L) Specifications: Movement: Quartz Case: Rose gold with brilliant-cut diamonds, diamond-set crown Bracelet: Rose gold with diamonds (Small: 145 mm; Large: 155 mm) Dial: Pavé-set brilliant-cut diamonds, rose gold-plated hands Functions: Hours, minutes Serpenti Aeterna (Ref. 104041) Specifications: Movement: Quartz Case: White gold with brilliant-cut diamonds, emerald-set crown Bracelet: White gold with diamonds (Small: 155 mm) Dial: Pavé-set brilliant-cut diamonds, green hands Functions: Hours, minutes