Thinner. Lighter. Stronger: A Look At Bulgari’s New Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic Carbon

Tourbillons have never been more desirable than at this point in time. Even though they are super expensive, the more exclusive these super complications are, the more collectors want them.
 

Bulgari stands out the crowd because not only is their flying tourbillon beautifully set in an open-worked dial, it is also a technological marvel. The caliber BVL 288 has a with a ball bearing system which has helped reduce the thickness to a mere 1.95 mm. And the automatic movement with its innovative peripheral oscillating weight has a nice 52-hour power reserve.
 

When this caliber was introduced in 2018, housed in a titanium case, it became the world’s thinnest automatic tourbillon ever produced.
 

Case material counts when it comes to complications. Traditionally deluxe mechanisms have been dressed up in precious metals. And these high-end materials and the craftsmanship required to create such an instrument are the reasons that the price of a tourbillon usually starts in the five digits.
 

To make tourbillons more accessible, brands are playing around with case materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. These innovations sometimes help lower the price point (though not in this case), but they also make them more wearable, which is also valuable.
 

The 2019 version of the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic comes in a case and bracelet crafted from carbon CTP (Carbon Thin Ply). Generally, the more complex a watch is, the heavier it feels. This material makes the watch feel light as a feather on the wrist.
 

The Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic Carbon is also a robust timepiece. You won’t be afraid to wear this lest you scratch or dent the case or damage the delicate tourbillon. And if it does take a few dings, the wear just makes it look even more distinguished.
 

The ultimate goal in owning a tourbillon is to have and hopefully show off an example of watchmaking at its finest. So what’s the point in having a watch that’s so precious that you can’t wear it? With the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic Carbon, it’s Bulgari’s goal to make a timepiece is robust enough to wear every day.
 

To return to my entirely biased opinion, it's rare when I can say that wearing a watch actually made me feel euphoric, but the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic Carbon did just that. Because it's limited to only 50 pieces, that sensation will become more elusive (limited editions definitely trigger the FOMO response in the brain). After I tried this timepiece on, I immediately started petitioning my colleagues at Watchonista to chip in and buy it so that we could take turns wearing it.
 

(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)