Home » Baselworld - World Watch and Jewellery Show » Baselworld 2014 Review: Bulgari Octo Finissimo – The Thinnest Tourbillon Ever
Bulgari has presented the new world’s thinnest tourbillon, Octo Finissimo, at this year’s edition of the Baselworld show. The hand-wound movement of the new recorder is 1.95 mm high, while the case profile measures to just 5 mm. This slimness was achieved by using ball bearing for the moving parts, instead of jewels. Ball bearing is utilized at the base of the movement, for the tourbillon, escape wheel, as well as for its barrel which serves a double function. Not only that it allows thinner construction, but it also allows the use of an extended spring which secures more ample power reserve. Octo Finissimo is presented in an octagonal case which is paired with a round bezel, as it is common for the Octo collection of Bulgari Watches. The distinctive case of the watch is made in platinum and stands in contrast with the watch’s black dial.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Watch
Ball Bearing and other Design Hacks
Octo Finissimo is the slimmest tourbillon currently on the market and, more importantly, the thinnest one ever made. The overall thickness (1.95 mm) of the movement with 249 components actually matches the thickness of its tourbillon cage. The floating tourbillon is mounted on an extremely thin peripherally-driven cartridge ball bearing mechanism which is attached to one of the two bridges of the movement (one bridge holds the tourbillon, while the other one keeps the minute hand gearing in place).
Another characteristic designed to flatten the overall profile was to cut the regulator from the design of the caliber, which is why the timing is now set directly on the balance wheel. It should likewise be mentioned that the movement’s variable-inertia balance beats at the frequency of 3 Hz. Finally, the mentioned design of the barrel with a double-length spring guarantees a power storage of around 55 hours.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Watch Movement
The new world’s thinnest tourbillon movement with the diameter of 32.6 mm is naturally embellished with high-end finishes. As it can be observed through the transparent case-back, the caliber features beveling and the Geneva stripes motif.
Black and Platinum
As for the slim octagonal case of the watch, it is made of platinum. Its narrow profile measures to just 5 mm, while its diameter is 42 mm. Surrounded with a round bezel in the same material as the case, there lays the black lacquered and polished dial. The face is with a single Arabic numeral at the top, as well as with an aperture for the tourbillon cage at the opposite side. Moreover, it includes skeletonized central hands for hours and minutes. Bulgari Octo Finissimo, the world’s new thinnest tourbillon, is kept on a wrist secured with a black alligator strap that locks with a platinum buckle.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Watch Back
