Bulgari Presents Octo Finissimo Automatic: The Slimmest Self-Winding Watch Today

At Baselworld 2017, Bulgari is celebrating its third world record. The Italian luxury jewelry and watch brand premiered the Octo Finissimo Automatic, the slimmest self-winding piece on today’s market.

The 40mm novelty is just 5.15 thick, while its self-winding Caliber BVL 138 boasts a width of mere 2.23mm. Despite its trimmed dimensions, the movement boasts the Cotes de Geneve on a circular-grained finishing, which contributes to its exquisiteness.The self-winding of the 130-piece caliber is achieved through a platinum micro-rotor that has enough inertia to ensures power efficiency and reserve of 60 hours.

In a true feat of watchmaking, Bulgari has pared down not only the movement but all the components that make up the case and dial. The minimalism of the Octo Finissimo Automatic, which is water resistant to up to 30 meters, lies on a design that explores shapes, materials, and volumes. It is constructed to reflect the mastery of Italian architecture and its Roman roots. Both the case and dial are rendered in titanium, which provides a stark contrast with the black, PVD-treated hands.

Light on functions, what the latest Octo features are enough to stun. At 7 o’clock an offset small seconds hand adds to the overall refinement. Ensuring a smooth energy regulation, the hand races at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. The novelty comes with either an alligator leather strap, clasped with a matching titanium pin buckle or a supple titanium link bracelet. The Octo Finissimo Automatic follows the 2014’s Octo Finisimo Tourbillon and the Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater of 2016, which have both set world records of thinness at the times of their debuts. The earlier versions, however, were mechanical hand-wind watches.

Before Octo Finisimo Automatic, the slimmest automatic watch on the market was the Piaget Altiplano Watch, whose movement was 2.35mm thick or 5.25 when fully cased.

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