Bvlgari has once again pushed the boundaries of horological engineering with the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon, now officially the world’s thinnest tourbillon watch at just 1.85mm thick. Unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2025, the timepiece dethrones Piaget’s Altiplano Concept Tourbillon (2mm) and continues Bvlgari’s decade-long pursuit of ultra-thin watchmaking excellence.
Priced at $678,000, this latest achievement builds on the brand’s legacy of record-breaking releases, including the world’s thinnest minute repeater (3.12mm, 2016), the Octo Finissimo Automatic (2.23mm, 2017), and the thinnest perpetual calendar (2.75mm, 2021)—which won the prestigious Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). The Octo Finissimo Ultra (1.8mm, 2022) and its COSC-certified successor (2024) further cemented Bvlgari’s dominance in ultra-thin craftsmanship.
Engineering Marvel: How Bvlgari Achieved the Impossible
Measuring 40mm in diameter yet barely thicker than a credit card, the Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon relies on eight patented innovations, including:
- Differential display
- Integrated case middle and plate design
- Bi-material case back
- Novel barrel structure
The tungsten carbide main plate anchors the movement, while stainless steel planar crowns at 8 o’clock (winding) and 3 o’clock (time-setting) maintain functionality without adding bulk. The sand-blasted brass dial, coated in DLC anthracite, contrasts with rhodium-plated hands, and the microbead-frosted titanium bracelet—just 1.5mm thick—completes the sleek profile.
A Movement Defying Physics
At its heart lies the BVL 900 calibre, a hand-wound, skeletonized tourbillon movement beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) with a 42-hour power reserve. While slightly less robust than the BVL 180 (used in prior models with 50-hour reserves), integrating a tourbillon while adding only 0.15mm—roughly two human hairs—demonstrates Bvlgari’s technical mastery.
A Tribute to Art and Precision
Inspired by the coffered ceilings of Rome’s Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, the octagonal design merges artistry with innovation. Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Bvlgari’s Product Creation Executive Director, emphasized the watch’s “precise execution”, from its polished bezel slope to the sunburst-finished tourbillon bridge.
Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of LVMH Watches and Bvlgari, framed the achievement as “redefining what’s possible” in mechanical watchmaking. With this release, Bvlgari not only reclaims a record but reaffirms its position at the pinnacle of haute horlogerie.
