Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT automatic watch silver dial steel bracelet 43 mm

Octo Finissimo: the radical aesthetics of time according to Bulgari

Since its first appearance in 2014, the Octo Finissimo has redefined the codes of contemporary watchmaking. Through this collection, Bulgari has imposed a unique signature, a fusion of architectural design, mechanical know-how and Italian refinement. With its octagonal case inspired by the design of the Pantheon in Rome and its taut lines, the Octo is much more than a watch: it is a manifesto.

In barely a decade, this line has become one of the most acclaimed in the watchmaking landscape, breaking world records for thinness in all categories – tourbillon, automatic, minute repeater, chronograph. The Octo style is the ability to embody modernity in its purest form, while integrating the most ambitious technical challenges of fine watchmaking.

The Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT, unveiled for the first time in 2019 and revisited here in steel (ref. 103661), embodies a new stage in this quest for perfection. It is aimed at those who seek to combine radical aesthetics with functional utility, without ever sacrificing finesse or sophistication.

The model

With a diameter of 43 mm and, above all, a thickness of 8.75 mm, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT ref. 103661 achieves a rare mechanical feat: offering a column-wheel chronograph with GMT function in a remarkably thin case.

This model features a stainless steel case with satin-brushed and polished surfaces, giving it an elegant, more urban than ever presence. The integrated steel bracelet perfectly matches the lines of the case in a visual continuum that emphasizes the unique geometry of the Octo design.

The vertically brushed silvered dial plays with the light and enhances readability, while allowing the chronograph subdials to be seen (30-minute totalizer at 6 o'clock, small seconds at 9 o'clock). The GMT function is driven by a 24-hour hand in a subdial at 3 o'clock, adjustable using the pusher at 9 o'clock, a detail that is both practical and discreetly integrated.

The whole exudes clarity, aesthetic coherence and, above all, that rare ability to combine utility and elegance in a wearable format that is pleasant on the wrist.

The BVL 318 caliber: exceptional micro-engineering

The engine that drives this timepiece is a match for its appearance. The BVL 318 manufacture caliber is an ultra-thin automatic movement barely 3.30 mm thick, a true technical feat made possible by the use of a peripheral rotor. Unlike conventional rotors mounted on a central pivot, this design frees up space, reduces the overall height of the movement and allows an unobstructed view of the caliber through the sapphire crystal case back.

But this thinness sacrifices nothing in terms of performance. The BVL 318 offers a comfortable 55-hour power reserve and a column-wheel chronograph design, a guarantee of precision and durability. The GMT module completes this ensemble by adding an elegantly integrated travel dimension, designed for the modern, mobile and demanding man.

Each finish of the movement is carefully crafted in the great Swiss tradition, while the technical approach remains true to the Bulgari spirit: innovating with grace, pushing the limits without ever losing sight of style.