Roman Pride – Heritage and Modernity With The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete

Bulgari celebrates its Roman heritage once again with a new secret watch. The culture, art, architecture and history of Rome has been a source of inspiration for the Maison’s designers for years, who are always seeking out modern ways to reimagine this classic legacy. Today, the superb Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon receives a special treatment, with the Monete edition.

Recombinant DNA

On the one hand, there is the avant-garde design and striking shapes of the Octo Finissimo. The distinctive case houses the extremely modern BLV268 movement, the thinnest Tourbillon on the market, presented in an architectural skeleton version (read our review on this amazing watch and movement here). On the other hand, the cover of this secret watch is none other than a super rare, 4^th century Roman coin. The front bears the portrait of Emperor Constantine Augustus wearing a diadem while the back features a laurel branch surrounding the name CAESAR. Naturally, the coin is directly connected to the Roman origin of the Maison. More than that, the “Monete” is a long-standing tradition at Bulgari, initiated by Nicola Bulgari in the 1960s.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing Bulgari Monete

The contrast of the modern design with the antique coin tells a singular story. It is a compendium of the Bulgari style and expertise. Like two sides of the same coin if I may say so. At 40mm in diameter, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete is crafted in 18k pink gold. The hinged opening system is activated by pushing the crown. It is worn on an alligator strap closed by a pink gold pin buckle.

Thinnest Tourbillon movement ever – Presented in 2014, the BLV268 tourbillon is the thinnest movement tourbillon ever. Measuring just 1.95 mm, it combines several original solutions: ball bearings for several moving parts (7), flying tourbillon rotating on a cartridge bearing and a barrel rotating thanks to three ball bearings on its periphery.

This unique piece was presented (together with a high-jewelry Monete pendant watch and other stunning creations) on the occasion of the high jewelry and haute horlogerie presentation in Venice last week-end.

For more information, please visit www.bulgari.com.

Technical specifications Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Monete

• Case: 40mm pink gold case fitted with a 4-silica silver coin – sapphire crystal on the front and on the back with antireflective coating. Water resistant to 30m.
• Movement: BLV268 with manual winding – 52 h power reserve – 21,600 vibrations/h – hours, minutes, flying tourbillon. 32.60 mm x 1.95 mm. 11 jewels. 253 parts.
• Strap: alligator strap on gold pin buckle
• Unique piece
• Price: CHF 450,000