When Bulgari first started its watchmaking division, few would have thought back then that it would be the absolute powerhouse that it is now, earning recognition from the industry. Over the past few years, not only has the brand engaged in building complicatons worthy of the highest accolades, but it also joined the ultra-thin competition that was previously battlegrounds for brands with years of manufacturing experiences such as Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Titanium

Bulgari reached a new milestone in the development of the ultra-thin Octo Finissimo Tourbillon when it first launched in 2014 – its 1.95-mm-thick movement makes this flying tourbillon the slimmest. It paved the way for subsequent complications to be added to the Octo Finissimo collection including minute repeaters, chronographs and ultra-thin time only pieces.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic Black Carbon

Bulgari revisits the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic this year during BaselWorld with an intent to smash another record for the world’s lightest self-winding tourbillon, with an all-new multi layered Carbon Thin Ply case. With the new watch case, it now weighs only 48g – nearly the weight of a regulation golf ball. Nothing else has been changed about the watch besides the case material. What has increased though is the thickness of the watch from 3.95mm to 5.38mm.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater

BaselWorld 2016 saw the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Minute Repeater set the record for the thinnest minute repeater in the world, coming in at just 6.85mm thick. Not only is it the thinnest, it also revolutionises the classic approach to complications, introducing a casual elegance and contemporary design to the timepiece. Bulgari has also opened up the dial; the numerals are cut into it, allowing sound to better propagate from the gongs, out through the front of the watch.